Restorer

"Character Talking"

"Character Thinking"

"Demon or Summon"

"Jutsu"

"xxxXXXxxx" Scene Change.

Chapter 7

About 5 months had passed sinc Naruto and Sasuke's last spar. Now Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were waiting on the bridge where they usually met. Sasuke was stoic as usual, his hands in his pockets. Sakura was looking at him with heart-filled eyes, while Naruto stood at the edge of the bridge, looking down at the water below. Suddenly, their sensei Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke.

Sakura noticed immediately and started screeching, "You're late again, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi waved her off lazily. "Sorry, I got lost on the path of life."

Naruto, without turning around, calmly asked, "What's the occasion for calling us here?"

Kakashi gave them an eye smile. "I've nominated you all for the upcoming Chunin Exam."

Both Naruto and Sasuke were clearly excited and gave small smiles, while Sakura looked uncertain about the exam. Kakashi handed them their nomination cards. "The exam is in five days. Be ready."

Sasuke then asked Kakashi, "Sensei, will you give us some tips on our training, or are we already ready?"

Kakashi nodded. "Thanks for reminding me, Sasuke." He handed each of them a scroll. "These scrolls are specifically designed for each of you to help improve in this last week before the exams." He then got more serious. "Be careful during the exams. You are still beginners and should tread with caution."

Naruto and Sasuke nodded while Sakura looked understandably frightened. As a last reassurance, Kakashi gave them an eye smile. "I'm proud of you all." And with that, he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Sakura looked at the scroll in her hand and then packed it into her pouch. She glanced at Sasuke and went to ask him for lunch, but Sasuke completely ignored her, his eyes fixated on his scroll. Naruto prepared to walk away, but to Sakura's shock, Sasuke called out to him.

"Hey, Naruto, let's train together this week."

Naruto stopped and turned back to look at him with an unreadable expression. Then he nodded. Sasuke followed after him, and Sakura watched them both walk away, leaving her dumbfounded.

xxxXXXxxx

After quite a bit of walking, both Naruto and Sasuke arrived at their destination. Sasuke reflected on how quiet their entire 20-minute walk had been, with neither of them saying anything to each other. As they reached their intended destination, Sasuke saw two massive double doors and was shocked.

"Why are we at the Namikaze mansion?" Sasuke asked, staring in disbelief.

Naruto looked at him. "I live here."

Sasuke remained stunned for a moment before following Naruto inside. The doors opened to reveal a massive yard where he saw dozens of Naruto clones already training with different swords and techniques. Sasuke, still in awe, asked, "Why do you have so many clones already training?"

Naruto answered, "All the clones' memories get transferred back to me, so any technique my shadow clones learn, I learn as well."

Sasuke instantly understood that this was Naruto's secret to his rapid improvement over the past few months. He immediately wanted to create some shadow clones himself, but before he could do anything, Naruto warned, "Don't even think about it. This training method isn't for you. It's something only I can do. Because of my unreal amounts of chakra, the average shinobi can only make about three to four clones, no more. If you try to make more, you could die of exhaustion."

Sasuke thought about it and realized Naruto was right. Naruto then spoke again, "First, how about we drink some tea? I'm very thirsty." He walked over to sit under the shade of a tree in the yard. Sasuke followed him, still processing everything he had just learned.

As they sat down, a clone of Naruto brought them both a cup of tea. Sasuke examined the cup, and Naruto sighed, saying, "It's called Matcha. It's very good for your health."

Sasuke accepted the tea and thanked Naruto before asking, "Do you live here all alone?"

Naruto thought for a moment and replied, "Yes and no."

Confused, Sasuke asked, "What do you mean?"

Naruto explained, "People do come here, but I'm mostly alone except for my clones and the girl I took from the Land of Waves."

Sasuke remembered the girl and his loss to her. "What happened to her?" he asked.

Naruto recalled, "She woke up about a week after I brought her here. At first, she was very violent, throwing insults at me because she couldn't move due to the chakra restraining seal I placed on her. After a few days, when she saw that insults wouldn't work, she begged me for a quick end to her life, which I wouldn't grant. I kept telling her I only wanted to help her, but she wouldn't understand. Haku wasn't used to a life like this; she considered herself Zabuza's tool."

"So, what did you do with her?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto replied, "Nothing really. She's decided to keep herself down in the mansion library, and she doesn't really talk to me. I send her food every day. In the beginning, I had to forcefully feed her due to her reluctance to eat. Now, she eats on her own, but she still doesn't trust me."

Naruto smiled a small, broken smile and asked, "Why do people hate me even though I try to help them?"

Sasuke looked at him, taken aback by the vulnerability in Naruto's voice. After a moment, he said, "People fear what they don't understand. You've always been different, Naruto. But that doesn't mean you're wrong for trying to help. Sometimes, people need more time to see the truth."

Naruto nodded, appreciating Sasuke's words. The two of them sat in silence for a while, sipping their tea, each lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming Chunin Exams and the challenges they would face.

Naruto stretched as he got up from the tree's shade, his resolve rekindled. "I think that's enough rest for now. How about we get up to some training?" he suggested, dusting off his clothes.

Sasuke nodded, following suit. He reached into his pouch, retrieving the scroll Kakashi had given him. As he unfolded it, his eyes scanned the detailed instructions, each step meticulously outlined. The scroll instructed Sasuke to focus on his taijutsu and train his Sharingan. To help with this, Kakashi had provided a list of different workouts:

1. **Shadow Boxing**: Practicing strikes and defenses alone to refine form and technique.

2. **Agility Drills**: Navigating through obstacles to enhance speed and reflexes.

3. **Sparring with Clones**: Creating clones to practice real combat scenarios.

4. **Sharingan Activation Drills**: Regularly activating and deactivating the Sharingan to improve control and stamina.

5. **Visual Tracking Exercises**: Following fast-moving objects to sharpen the Sharingan's tracking ability.

6. **Genjutsu Resistance Training**: Practicing mental exercises to build resistance against illusions.

Naruto, seeing Sasuke's scroll, pulled out his own and began reading it. His scroll emphasized the need to improve his chakra control and listed various fire and wind style techniques he could practice once his chakra control was sufficiently honed:

1. **Chakra Control Exercises**: Practicing tree climbing and water walking to master chakra flow.

2. **Leaf Concentration Training**: Balancing a leaf on his forehead to maintain focus.

3. **Elemental Chakra Practice**: Learning to manipulate fire and wind chakra with precision.

4. **Clone Jutsu Variations**: Experimenting with different applications of the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

5. **Stamina Building Drills**: Endurance training to increase his overall chakra capacity.

6. **Nature Transformation Practice**: Transforming his chakra into elemental forms for advanced techniques.

Both boys looked at each other, a mutual understanding passing between them. They were ready to push themselves to the limit in preparation for the Chunin Exams.

xxxXXXxxx

After five days of relentless training, Team 7 gathered at the front of the academy where the Chunin Exams were being held. Naruto and Sasuke had arrived first, and Sakura arrived last. She greeted them with "Good morning" and, strangely, didn't jump all over Sasuke showering him with praise—something they both noticed.

The three of them then entered the academy. When they reached the second floor, they were greeted with the sight of a dozen genin waiting to be let into the exam, in particular, a thick-eyebrowed kid was screaming at the top of his lungs to be let in. In a quiet voice, Sakura said that it was only a Genjutsu and that they should just move to the third floor without much delay and quietly. Naruto and Sasuke both followed behind Sakura as she led them to the third floor. Naruto sensed a pair of lavender eyes looking at him from behind, probably another Hyuga, he told himself.

As they made their way towards the third floor, a voice from behind them called out to Sasuke, telling him to stop. They turned around and saw that it was the boy with thick eyebrows.

As they looked up at him, Sasuke asked, "What do you want?" The boy jumped down and said, "My name is Rock Lee, and you are Sasuke Uchiha. I want you to fight me." Team 7 all looked at him in silence. Sasuke then broke the silence and asked, "Why would I fight you?"

Rock Lee told him that he wanted to test out his own power and technique. "Among all the genin of Konoha, I am the strongest," he declared. Naruto only stared Lee up and down but said nothing. Sasuke got an amused smirk and told Lee, "Is that so?" He paused for a bit, then added, "You know the name of the Uchiha Clan yet you still assume to challenge me. Well then, I'll grace you with a battle."

Sakura saw the clock and pleaded with Sasuke, "We don't have time, only 30 minutes remain until we're supposed to enter the exam hall."

Sasuke reassured her, "This battle will only take me 5 minutes." Naruto looked at Sasuke with a serious face, thinking to himself, "He is going into this with far too much confidence."

Without wasting a second, Sasuke charged towards Rock Lee, ready to exchange blows with him.

Sasuke charged at Rock Lee, his eyes focused and determined. They clashed in a flurry of punches and kicks, the sound of their blows echoing through the empty corridor. Naruto and Sakura watched intently, the intensity of the battle holding their attention.

Sasuke aimed a high kick at Lee's head, but Lee ducked under it effortlessly and countered with a swift punch to Sasuke's midsection. Sasuke blocked the punch, then swung a low kick at Lee's legs. Lee jumped to avoid the kick and retaliated with a spinning back kick. Sasuke raised his arm to block it, the force of the blow making him slide back a few feet.

"Not bad," Sasuke muttered, his smirk never leaving his face. "But I'm just getting started."

He launched himself at Lee again, their movements becoming a blur as they exchanged rapid-fire blows. Lee's punches and kicks were precise and powerful, but Sasuke's natural talent and training kept him in the fight. Despite this advantage, Sasuke found it difficult to gain the upper hand, Lee's speed and agility keeping him on the defensive.

Lee suddenly increased his speed, moving almost faster than Sasuke could follow. He aimed a series of rapid punches at Sasuke, each one getting closer to landing. Sasuke blocked and dodged as best he could, but one punch slipped through his defenses, grazing his cheek.

"You're good," Sasuke admitted, wiping the small trickle of blood from his face. "But let's see how you handle this."

He launched a barrage of punches at Lee, who deftly dodged and blocked each one. Sasuke followed up with a sweeping kick, but Lee jumped over it and landed a powerful kick to Sasuke's chest, sending him stumbling back.

Just as Lee was about to press his advantage, a figure appeared between them in a blur of green and white. "That's enough, Lee!" the newcomer declared.

It was Might Guy, Lee's mentor. He placed a hand on Lee's shoulder, his voice stern but kind. "You were about to use a technique that's not allowed in these circumstances. This is just a sparring match."

Lee looked at his sensei, then back at Sasuke, and nodded. "Yes, Sensei. I apologize." He bowed to Sasuke, who nodded in return, acknowledging the strength and skill of his opponent.

Might Guy smiled broadly, giving a thumbs up. "Both of you showed excellent skill. But save your strength for the exams. You'll need it."

As Team 7 continued to the exam hall, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for Lee. "He's no ordinary opponent," Sasuke thought, glancing at Naruto, who had been watching the entire exchange with a keen eye.

Team 7 made their way into the Examination Hall, immediately hit by the intense glares and palpable killing intent from the genin present. Naruto and Sasuke didn't flinch, their expressions remaining stoic, while Sakura was momentarily taken aback but quickly shook it off, steeling herself with the thought, "I must be strong for the sake of my team."

Suddenly, Ino Yamanaka leapt onto Sasuke's back, her voice ringing out, "Sasuke-kun! Did you miss me?" Sasuke, visibly annoyed, remained silent. Sakura, clearly pissed off, snapped at Ino, "Back off, Ino-pig!"

Shikamaru and Choji joined their teammate, with Shikamaru muttering, "This is such a drag." It wasn't long before Team Kurenai arrived as well, Kiba declaring, "Looks like all the rookie genin are here."

Hinata shyly approached Naruto, greeting him softly. "Naruto-kun, are you confident you'll pass?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Naruto gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I intend to win this entire tournament," he replied confidently.

Just then, a young man with glasses, Kabuto Yakushi, approached the group. "You should keep it down," he advised quietly. "You're drawing too much attention from everyone in the room."

The entire group fell silent, realizing the gravity of the situation. The Examination Hall was filled with potential rivals, each one sizing up the competition.

Naruto asked the young man, "Who are you?"

"My name is Kabuto Yakushi," he replied, adjusting his glasses. "I'm a genin from the Hidden Leaf."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself, *There were no mentions of the name Kabuto Yakushi in the reports that Yamato gave me. I should get him to look into this guy.*

Seeing the silence, Kabuto smiled and said, "I'll do you rookies a kindness."

Kiba raised an eyebrow, "What kind of kindness?"

Kabuto explained, "I've participated in the Chunin Exams about seven times now and have gathered intel on a lot of the participants here." He pulled out a deck of cards and asked, "Are there any participants you're interested in knowing about?"

As none of them spoke up, Sasuke decided to take the initiative. "Rock Lee of Konoha and his teammates," he said.

Kabuto smiled, "You even know their names. That makes it boring, but oh well." He performed a jutsu, and the cards began to reveal information about the three participants Sasuke asked for.

"First, Rock Lee," Kabuto began. "He specializes in taijutsu and has incredible speed and strength. However, he can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu. His sensei is Might Guy, and he's known for his intense training regimen."

Next, Kabuto moved to the second card. "Neji Hyuga. A prodigy from the Hyuga Clan. He's a master of the Gentle Fist style and possesses the Byakugan, allowing him to see his opponent's chakra network and strike with pinpoint accuracy."

Finally, Kabuto revealed the last card. "Tenten. She's a weapons specialist with exceptional accuracy. She can summon and wield a vast array of ninja tools with deadly precision."

Kabuto smiled and said, "These guys are good, but they are most certainly not the ones you need to watch out for."

Sasuke asked, "What do you mean?"

Kabuto continued, "I've heard rumors about a genin from Suna who has gone on many different missions and has returned from all of them completely uninjured."

"What's his name?" Kiba asked.

"His name is Gaara of the Sand," Kabuto told them.

"Are there any other shinobi we should watch out for?" Sakura asked.

Kabuto replied, "Well, naturally, there are other shinobi who are good, but I do not believe they are up to the Sand genin's level. Most of them are from minor shinobi villages."

Hearing Kabuto's claim, a group of three genin from the Sound Village took offense. The genin with a mask that covered most of his face except for his left eye said, "Did you hear that? He called us genin from a minor shinobi village. How about we update his data?"

"Yeah, we should," his two other teammates agreed. In a blur of speed, they vanished and reappeared right in front of Kabuto. Kabuto believed he dodged their attack, only to hit the ground a moment later. He saw that his glasses had been cracked.

The sudden attack drew the attention of everyone in the hall. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura tensed up, ready to intervene if necessary. Kabuto slowly got up, adjusting his cracked glasses, and smiled weakly. "It seems I've underestimated the Sound Village. You guys are definitely something to watch out for."

The genin from the Sound Village smirked, their leader speaking up. "Remember that the next time you make assumptions about minor villages."

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, making a mental note of the Sound Village genin. This exam was going to be more intense than he initially thought.

Out of nowhere, in a puff of smoke, Ibiki Morino appeared. His imposing presence immediately commanded the attention of everyone in the room. "Everyone, take your seats!" he barked. "Fighting is prohibited. If anyone tries it again, they will be instantly disqualified."

His stern expression made most of the genin gulp in fright. Once the room settled down and everyone took their seats, Ibiki began to explain the first phase of the exam.

"The first phase of the Chunin Exam is a written test," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall. Groans of frustration and disbelief rippled through the room.

Ibiki continued, ignoring the reactions. "Listen carefully, because I will only explain the rules once. You will each be given a test paper with ten questions. The test will last for one hour. The objective is to answer the questions as accurately as possible."

He paused, allowing the tension to build. "Now, for the rules. Rule number one: Each of you starts with ten points. This is a point deduction test. For every wrong answer, points will be deducted. If you get caught cheating, you will lose two points for each incident. And yes, we have numerous ways to catch you if you attempt to cheat."

Murmurs spread through the genin as they exchanged worried glances. Ibiki's eyes scanned the room, ensuring he had their full attention before continuing.

"Rule number two: Teams will pass or fail based on the combined score of their members. This means that the success of your team depends on each individual's performance."

Sakura's eyes widened in realization, understanding the pressure placed on each of them to perform well.

"Rule number three: If anyone's score drops to zero, they, along with their entire team, will be immediately disqualified."

Ibiki's gaze turned even more intense. "And finally, the tenth question will be given 45 minutes into the test. However, there will be special rules for the tenth question, which I will explain when the time comes. Until then, you must focus on the first nine questions."

The room fell into a tense silence. The weight of the test and its implications settled heavily on the genin.

Ibiki concluded, "You have one hour. Begin!" He motioned for the proctors to distribute the test papers.

As the test papers were handed out, the room filled with the sound of rustling paper and the scratching of pencils. Naruto looked around the room, noticing other genin scribbling away confidently.

Naruto was initially at a loss, struggling to comprehend even a single question. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as the minutes ticked away. However, this time, Naruto remembered something important: the test wasn't just about the questions; it was about gathering information.

Hinata, sitting right next to him, noticed Naruto's distress. She gave him a reassuring smile and subtly shifted her paper in his direction. Naruto, catching on, gave her a grateful nod. He activated his acute observational skills and began to carefully glance at her answers.

Hinata's help was invaluable. Naruto realized that the point of the exam was to cheat without getting caught, and he began to use his skills to copy Hinata's answers discreetly. He was careful not to attract the proctors' attention, who were watching for any signs of cheating.

Naruto's confidence grew as he continued to copy Hinata's answers. He remembered Kakashi's training and advice: a ninja must see through deception and adapt to the situation. He glanced around the room and saw others using various techniques to cheat: Neji using his Byakugan, Sasuke using his Sharingan, and Shino using his insects.

The 45-minute mark approached, and just as Ibiki had mentioned, he stood up to explain the special rule for the tenth question.

"Now," Ibiki announced, "we come to the final question. But before I give it to you, there are a few additional rules you must be aware of."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable.

"Rule one: You have the choice to take the tenth question or not. If you choose not to take it, you and your team will automatically fail."

Gasps and whispers spread through the room, but Ibiki continued.

"Rule two: If you choose to take the question and answer incorrectly, you will lose the opportunity to ever take the Chunin Exam again."

The room erupted in murmurs. Naruto's heart pounded in his chest, but he felt a newfound determination.

Ibiki's eyes scanned the room. "For those who are afraid, you can leave now. But if you stay, be prepared to accept the consequences."

Several genin stood up and left, unable to bear the pressure. Naruto, however, stayed resolute. He looked at Hinata, who gave him an encouraging nod. Sasuke and Sakura stayed as well, their faces set with determination.

Ibiki smirked. "Those who remain have passed the first part of the exam. The real purpose of the test was to test your ability to gather information under pressure and your resolve to stay despite the risk."

As they prepared for the next phase, Naruto couldn't help but feel grateful for Hinata's support.

Just then, the window shattered inward, and a whirlwind of energy filled the room. Anko Mitarashi made her dramatic entrance, landing in the center of the room with a smirk on her face.

"Alright, you sorry lot!" she declared, her voice cutting through the tension. "Congratulations on surviving the first part of the exam, but don't get too comfortable. The next phase is about to begin!"

The genin stared at her, some in awe, others in apprehension.

"Follow me to Training Ground 46," Anko continued, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "It's time to see what you're really made of."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and leaped back out the window, expecting the genin to follow. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exchanged determined looks before hurrying after her, joining the stream of genin making their way to the next location.

As they made their way to Training Ground 46, Naruto couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves.

As everyone gathered at Training Ground 46, Anko stood before the genin with a wide grin on her face. The vast expanse of the forest loomed behind her, an ominous backdrop to her next announcement.

"Welcome to the second phase of the Chunin Exams!" Anko began, her voice full of enthusiasm. "This is Training Ground 46, also known as the Forest of Death."

The genin exchanged uneasy glances as Anko continued, "Before we get started, I'm going to pass out these consent forms. You need to sign them. This phase is dangerous, and there's a real risk of injury or worse. If you're not prepared to face that, you should quit now."

After the consent forms were handed out and signed, Anko explained the test. "Now, let me explain the rules. Each team will be given one of two scrolls: either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll. Your objective is to obtain both scrolls by taking them from other teams. You need to bring both scrolls to the tower located at the center of this forest within five days."

She paused to let the information sink in, then continued, "There are a few more things you need to know. First, you can't open the scrolls until you reach the tower. If you do, you'll be disqualified. Second, not all teams will make it. If you lose your scroll or fail to reach the tower in time, you're out. And finally, you'll be facing not only the other teams but also the dangers of the forest itself. There are plenty of man-eating beasts and poisonous plants waiting for you."

Anko's grin widened as she saw the looks of determination and fear on the genin's faces. "This test will push you to your limits. It's designed to weed out the weak and see who truly has the potential to become a Chunin."

She then distributed the scrolls to each team and said, "Take your scrolls and head to your assigned gates. Once you're all in position, the test will begin."

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura accepted their scroll and made their way to their gate. As they stood there, waiting for the signal to start, Naruto felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it—the real test was about to begin.

With a loud buzzer, the gates swung open, and the teams dashed into the forest.