Start

Konoha outpost land of grass

Naruto, Ayane, Hana and the two other squads made it back to the outpost.

They entered commander Kaitos office to see 6 anbu shinobi with various animals masks. Talking to the commander.

"Squad 41, Squad 12, Squad 29, welcome back." Commander Kaito greeted them.

"Good job on your mission, kusa forces have pulled back for now to reassess. Your job here is done."

Naruto looked confused.

"What do you mean commander? The battle isn't over."

"It is for you, effective immediately all genin have been recalled to the village."

Commander Kaito stated getting protests from him and Hana.

"What the hell!"

"Commander what's going on?"

An anbu wearing a bird mask held up a hand silencing them.

"You've done well here but Hokage-sama has recalled all reserve genin to the village. This conflict is not yours anymore genin."

The anbu stated stressing the word genin to silence them further.

Naruto clenched his fists frustrated at not being able to finish but took a breath knowing that his duty was to follow orders.

Hana placed a hand on his shoulder calming him somewhat.

"When do we leave?" Hana asked.

"Now."

"Roger."

"Understood. "

Naruto and Hana stood at the entrance to the outpost with their supplies secured.

Naruto stood with his arms crossed, a frown on his face. His signature odachi secured to his back gleaming in the afternoon sun.

"Hey guys! I'm glad I caught you before you left." Ayane said running up to them.

"We would never have left without saying goodbye. " Hana replied her beautiful smile plastered on her face.

"Naruto you're not going to be grumpy during our Farwell to Ayane are you?" She asked getting a sigh from him as he unfolded his arms and walked over.

"It's not going to be the same without you Ayane, thank you for being a great squadmate." He said quietly. She threw her arms around him squeezing him in a tight hug.

"I'm going to miss you guys too. I know we'll see each other soon." Ayane said into the hug.

Hana joined the hug from the side sandwiches Naruto between them giggling.

"Squad 41 and Squad 111 forever." She muttered.

They headed out soon after jumping from tree to tree. Naruto still quiet but not as frustrated from the abrupt departure from Kusa.

"I wonder why we were recalled so upbruptly, I know genin don't fight on the front lines but we did well sabotaging the kusa incursion effort." She mused outloud only to receive silence

"Naruuuutttoooooo."

"Narrruuuuutoooooo." She said again in a sing song voice

"Sigh. Yes Hana?"

"Don't be upset, I want to hear your thoughts."

"It's probably because of me. Every since I can remember the village has treated me differently like a plague. I don't know why." He said shoulders stiff as he propelled himself off a branch far into the distance.

Hana sped up jumping right next to him after catching up.

"I'm sorry for how I treated you when we first became a squad. I don't know why everyone treats you like that but we'll find out together." She said throwing him a smile he couldn't help but return.

"Together. "

Leaf Village Gates

They entered the west gate after finishing check-in. Naruto looked around feeling weird being back in the village after the conflict he was assigned too.

"Same old looks." He muttered seeing the hateful glares directed towards him. He put one hand on his Odachi, a soothing comfort that's helped him so far.

Hana frowned seeing the the looks and his response.

"Hey Naruto let's go to that ramen place you're always talking about. We don't have to report in since this was a recall."

"RAMEN! How I've missed you!" Naruto shouted seemingly forgetting his earlier woes as he took off scaling a building to roof hop to ichirakus.

"Wow, look at him go. Wait I'm going to lose him." Hana said gawking for a second before sending chakra to her limbs to chase after Naruto.

She arrived right after him at a small restaurant with the name Ichiraku embolden at the front. Lifting the tarp and walking inside she found Naruto already devouring a bowl.

"Uhhh."

"Hana-chan sit down! Old man I brought a friend!"

Said old man walked up to the counter wearing a friendly smile as he sat another steaming bowl down in front of Naruto.

"Well well my best customer has found a friend. I'm happy for you Naruto. What is your name miss?" Ichiraku asked

"Hana sir."

"Nice to meet you Hana, I'm glad young Naruto has people he can count on now. So what would you like to order?" He said with a big grin directed at them.

"Can I have whatever he's having?" She asked turning to look at Naruto's miso ramen, sweat dropping at 4 bowls stacked next to him as he worked on the fifth.

"Just one please." She changed giggling softly.

"Coming right up."

Hana closed her eyes listening to the sound of pots clinking, noodles on the wok and the sizzling of broth.

"This is so peaceful."

"Yeah it is, the old man offered me peace and food when I had nothing to pay with. This will always be my first home." Naruto said setting his empty plates on the high counter.

"Order up!" Old man Ichiraku placed the noodles in front of Hana looking at her expectantly.

Hana grabbed her chop sticks.

"Itdakimasu."

"This is delicious sir!" She said taking more bites.

Ichiraku let out a belly laugh.

"Making others smile with my food is the only dream I've had. Thank you so much for coming in today."

Next Day

Naruto and Hana were at the training grounds sparing when a sparrow flew overhead getting their attention.

"A mission already?"

"Let's see." Hana replied holding out her forearm for the sparrow to land on. She unwrapped the small scroll attached to its leg.

"No not a mission but are to report to Hokage-samas office immediately."

"Alright let's see what Jiji wants."

Hokage office

They entered the office to see their Supreme commander focused on the paperwork stacked higher than his head.

"Hana, Naruto. Just who I wanted to see."

"This better be about recalling us from kusa old man." Naruto interrupted with his arms folded across his chest.

"Naruto! Don't be rude to Hokage-sama. I'm sorry for him sir." Hana said bowing her head getting a chuckle from the wizened leader.

"It's quite alright, i understand his feelings. I was a young man willing to take on the world myself once."

"The reason I recalled you also ties into why you're here today. In 2 days time we will have the chunin exams hosted in konoha. I have watched both of your progress and normally reserve shinobi wouldn't be able to attend without the approval of their jonin-sensei and a third teammate I have chosen to sponsor you and appoint you a third teammate." The Third finished smiling at the dumbfounded youngsters.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the Hokage.

"What's your angle old-." He was unable to finish, Hana grabbed his head forcing him into a bow as she followed suit.

"Thank you Hokage-sama." Only hearing her own voice she pinched his head.

"Yeah yeah thank you jiji."

"I truly am invested in the development of all my shinobi. You may go, your teammate will meet you at training ground 37 later today." The Hokage stated dismissing them from his office.

They left his office heading to the training ground to meet their teammate.

"Do you think if we become chunin we'll be able to join Ayane again?" Hana asked Naruto as they entered the training ground.

"I don't know, chunin move squads a lot. We can always work towards it."

"You're right, let's be chunin together!"

Naruto smiled at her enthusiasm before pausing as he sensed something incoming fast.

"Hana get ready somethings coming!" Naruto said urgently placing his hand on his Odachi.

Multiple ink lions burst into the training ground roaring at them

"Naruto formation 0!"

"Right. "

Hana went through 10 handseals

"Water style: converging blades."

Hanas jutsu created water blades that flew like arcs towards the lions. Naruto followed her lead forming 4 handseals.

"Lightning Style: current." He intoned as his lighting wrapped around the water blades from currently that flowed between the blades. The lions attempted to dodge between the water blades only to be dispelled by the lightning current. They dissapeared into a plop of ink.

It's you huh. Naruto thought to himself.

"I've got his location Hana."

"Go."

Naruto dissapeared into a shunshin leafs floating down at his previous location.

He reappeared with his Odachi unsheated the blade pointing at a Sais throat.

"So it is you again.."

Sai continued to draw on a small notebook. Completely unbothered by the odachi that could easily end him.

"You remember me shorty?" Sai asked with a fake smile on his face. Narutos expression fell flat as he sheathed his Odachi onto his back.

"Could never forget your horrible smile or dumb insults."

Hana appeared at that instant to the opposite of where Naruto wedging Sai in-between them.

"I'm your new teammate. You may call me Sai." Sai said with an even faker smile.

Hana frowned at him feeling something was off but knowing they needed a teammate to compete buried her feelings quickly.

"Hey Sai, I'm Hana if you have a problem i would be happy to help." She said waving at him.

"Nice to meet you too fat ass." He said with a big fake smile only to hear silence.

Hana smile took a small crack. She had no idea how to respond to his remake and she slowly felt up her curves grabbing her supple bottom. Making Naruto's face light up bright red.

"Narutttoooo. Is my ass too fat?" She asked turning towards only to see him walking away with a red face Sai in tow.

"Narutooooo." She ran after them with Naruto shushining from place to place In the training to avoid her.

Chunin exam day

Naruto, Hana and Sai walked into shinobi academy for the first test of the chunin exams.

They walked up two flights of stairs stopping when they heard the commotion of others teams.

"Let's stay focused on our team, there's nothing to gain wasting time here."

Naruto said heading up the final flight of stairs to the third floor.

"Your so fired up you just want to get right to it." Hana said with a smile as her and a silent Sai followed behind him.

They entered the exam room to a blast of killing intent from genin all over the elemental nations. They easily shrugged it off finding a quiet place on the edge of the exam room.

"Well here we are. What did you guys think?" Naruto asked his team. Arms crossed leaning against a wall.

"Hmm, probably some kind of test that's going to require us to be stationary." Hana deduced taking a look around the exam room.

"What do you think Sai?" She asked.

"Well fatass you're most likely right. Maybe a proficiency test." He added on ignoring or oblivious to her twitching eyebrow.

Naruto stiffled a chuckle as Hana turned towards him.

Hana went to speak only to pause as all three new teammates turned their heads to track three shinobi wearing musical note headbands dashed through the crowd. They struck out at a leaf shinobi that dodged only to collapse and vomit.

Narutos eyes narrowed further.

"That was intense wind pressure. That could take out anyone of us." Naruto said attempting to analyze the jutsu.

"Any of details you can gleam?" Hana asked

"Low chakra usage, he's using it as a medium but it's almost like it's fused to his body." Naruto said using his senory jutsu to analyze the enemies technique.

"Your short, the attack will probably go right over your head and hit fat ass." Sai said to the dismay of his two teammates who just let out a sigh.

POOF*

"Alright you brats I'm Ibiki Moreno, get to your seats so I can administer the first test of the chunin exams.

Later

"Byakugan!" Hinata thought to herself before immediately blushing.

Naruto is here! Naruto is here! She thought feeling her face rapidly heat up.

Hana who was sitting in the last row next to Ame shinobi went though a few handseals. Naruto who had a water bottle on the table opened it and let it spill on his table. Hana finished her handseals and the water on the desk split into two sections, one traveled along the floor, to the wall and then ceiling settling itself above a genin who was furiously writing on his test.

Hana flipped through three more handseals finishing with bird.

"Water style: reflective liquid jutsu." She muttered silently as the answers the genin had out on his test appeared on the other liquid that was next to Naruto. He quickly copied the answers giving an indistinct nod once done. The puddle next to his desk slid off back on to the floor sliding up fron desks to be at Hana's desk. Removing her one hand from the bird seal while keeping it active with her other she slowly copied the answers. She went to held Sai when she noticed his ink creatures were already heading back to him to finish his test.

Later

A purple haired jonin with her hair in a ponytail with pineapple esque ends flourished in front of a crowd of genin.

"Welcome to training ground 44 the forest of death!"

"Uhh she's not serious is she?"

"This lady is crazy!"

"I bet it's nothing but a walk in the park" a brown haired genin with a small white dog said. Anko threw a kunai cutting his cheek teleworking behind him licker his bloody cheek.

"Big talkers are always the first to die. "

Anko stood up, happy that she scared Kiba only to whip around with another kunai only to stop short when she saw that it was a kusa ninja for shinobi.

"You almost died Kusa shinobi" she continued

"When blood is spilled my bloodlust becomes hard to control."

A kusa shibobi stated with an extremely longated tongue wrapped around the kunai. She twisted her tongue presenting the kunai to anko who grabbed it back with a thank you.

Later

Naruto, Hana and Sai stood at their fence ready to go.

"Who wants to hold the scroll?" Hana asked

"Shorty should be useful, seal it into a scroll. I doubt many other genin know fuuinjutsu."

"Shut up Sai." Naruto responded with a twitching eye.

He pulled out a seal with an Uzumaki swirl as the crest. He unrolled it placing the heaven scroll in the center of the jutsu shiki markings.

"Seal." *poof*

BOOOM*

The gates were thrown open as all the teams rushed through the forest.

The new squad 111 tree hopped at a slower pace. Going up In elevation for a good vantage point.

"Naruto use your sensory ninjutsu to find the nearest team that isn't a leaf shinobi." Hana requested.

"In this test everyone is our enemy." Sai stated getting frowns from his squadmates. Naruto stopped abruptly on a thick branch. Quickly grabbing a small snake that launched itself at him. He turned to face Sai an inferno of determination etched onto his face.

"We are leaf shinobi, not wild animals. It is our will of Fire our unity that makes other villages fear us. I would die even for you because you are a leaf shinobi."

Sai's eyes widened for a minuscule amount barely detectable for genin before returning to normal.

"I see. Very well."

"Naruto..." Hana nudged him to get them back on track.

"Right." He closed his eyes forming the snake handsign as his sensory ninjutsu area expanded.

"I sense two teams fighting to the west. Earth and lightning affinities. 1 team of water affinities to the east and 3 unidentifiable teams to the north. There are 3 teams of fire affinity shinobi nearest to us but they are most likely lead shinobi."

"Let's head east!"

"Agreed."

"Roger."

They took off at half speed the forest blurring into a haze of green and brown colors as they hopped from one branch to the next. The wind parted by their bodies creating an almost whistling sound that could almost silence the forest. They continued to tree hop for another 15 minutes before Naruto signaled a halt holding up a fist for his teammates to see. They stopped on a branch right above a squad of shinobi.

"Alright, we're right above them." He whispered motioning below for his teammates to confirm. Receiving two nods Sai pulled out his notepad sketching a three ink birds that came alive. They flew down targeting each genin that upon closer look were from Ame raining the standard battle fatigues with rebreathers.

"Watch out! Scatter! " one of the Ame nin shouted as they all dispersed into different areas to dodge the unpredictable ink birds. One of the ame nin landed up above on a tree branch only to be grabbed by a plethora of inky black snakes that wrapped him up slowly curling around his entire body until they reached his neck suffocating him until he passed out.

Another Ame-nin laid down hiding peeking through a bush to see who ambushed them. He swiveled his head back and forth looking for the enemy as water slowly covered his body from the feet until it covered his entire body. He thrashed desperate to get out. He grabbed his throat desperate for air until he passed out the water bubble popping right after to drop him back on the ground.

"Cheru! Yuso!" The Third Ame nin called out desperate for her comrades to respond.

"They can't help you." A disembodied voice called out. The third ame nin felt her legs start shaking.

"Nooooo!"

The last ame nin bolted across the ground as fast as her legs could carry her.

"I have to get away! I never should have taken this stupid test!" She screamed as desperate tears streamed down her face.

"Let me out." She cried desperately fear completely taking over her. She ran passed the same tree three times before realizing she was in a genjutsu.

"Why!? Let me gooo!" She fell to her knees screaming just before seeing a shadow approach her with glowing golden eyes.

"Stay away from me!" She screamed desperately as the shadow closed in tapping her on the shoulder, her falling asleep right after.

"Well that was so easy its anticlimactic." Naruto said walking past the passed out kunoichi

"Alright time to grab the scroll. Naruto said flipping the kunoichi on your back and rummaging through her pouches and clothes.

"Tch. Nothing."

"Hana, Sai either of your opponents have a scroll?"

"Hmmm, nope nothing on my end."

"I got something, ... it's a heaven scroll." Sai stated tossing it to Naruto to seal.

"Let's head out, I already pinpointed the next team." Naruto stated receiving two nods before they took off into the trees.

They tree traversed the high trees at top speed.

"This team has twice as much chakra as the Ame team, two wind affinities and another affinity that hasn't matured yet." Naruto said quickly as they closed in on the enemy team.

"I suggest formation 7 kilo." He continued

Both members of squad 111 adopted serious expressions on their faces.

"Roger."

"Roger."

They saw the the three shinobi who happened to be suna-nin. They flung shuriken and kunai then Sai and Hana dissapeared right after.

"Taichi, Kunano 11 o'clock!" The Third suna-nin wearing a Grey cloak covered his entire body shouted as the named Taichi and Kunano spun around going through handseals.

"Wind Style: Great breakthrough!" They unleashed a swirl of wind that knocked the projectiles away.

"Beast scroll: imitation jutsu!" A ink creature resembling a tiger leapt from his scroll heading straight for the last genin who called out to his teammates. The ink tiger closed in only to explode as a clanking figure drove multiple swords sticking from all around its body into the ink tiger.

"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" Naruto appeared to their left flank before they could regroup launching a massive fireball at both windows users.

"Shit!" they exclaimed jumping away from each other to dodge the fireball. They narrowly escaped. Tachi throwing himself to the left smacking into a tree, Kunano launched herself to the right landing smack on her side in the clearing. Kunano went to standup.

"Water Style: water prison jutsu." A swirl of water surrounded her trapping her in a cage of steel like water.

"Damn it!" Kunano went through hand seals attempting another great breakthrough only for the water to choke her when she opened her mouth, she gasped holding her throat before passing out. The water prison popped.

"Eran, regroup with me." Taichi called out to his teammate who nodded. They formed up back to back scanning the forest for any ambushes.

"Did you see Kunano after the fireball?" Eran asked

"No and she's dissapeared."

"Damn those treehuggers!"

"How do you know they're leaf shinobi?" Taichi asked as kunai came at them from above. Eran twitched his fingers the cloaked figure with many swords sticking out of it quickly leapt spinning, deflecting all the kunai.

"Idiot use your brain. The fireball jutsu is a leaf shinobi staple." He replied.

"He's right you know. " Naruto stated appearing on a branch above them.

"Water style: water dragon jutsu!" A mass of water came from Eran side in the shape of a dragon.

"Fuck shit! Taichi switch!" He shouted as they quickly pivoted Taichi finishing a long string of handseals.

"Wind Style: wind cut-" he tried to finish only for black ink snakes to wrap around his hands keeping him from finishing his handseals. The now know puppeteer jumped back dodging black ink spiders.

He maneuvered his hands manipulating his puppet that swung its sword cutting through the black snakes. Tachi tried to regroup with Eran backpeddling why going through handseals he was stopped by Naruto who appeared in front of him, threw two jabs taichi tilted his head to dodge, Naruto threw a faint with his left leg forcing Taichi to cover his chest Naruto pivoted into a a sweep with his right that was jumped over before Taichi was hit on his right side by a follow up roundhouse throwing him rolling across the ground.

He flipped up finishing a chain of handseals, holding out his hand barely visible swirl of wind was grasped in his hand.

"Wind Style: wind blade." He intoned the blade growing to three feet in length.

"Rarrggg." He roared dashing at Naruto who unsheathed his Odachi meeting his horizontally slash with one aimed to cut him from head to feet.

clang* *clang*

They attacked each other fiercely the wind blade flickering from translucent to solid showing the inexperience of the user.

Taichi crouched attacking his opponents thighs who jumped over his head blocking a strike aimed at his throat. Naruto landed behind him parrying a strike towards his shoulder, deflecting a thrust that almost took his eye. He jumped back centering himself as he took a deep breath and exhaled.

"You're not bad, unfortunately for you this is a team event and you're all out of team." Naruto said as his teammate the puppeteer was bound and gagged dropped into the clearing as Hana and Sai appeared behind him.

Taichi clenched his hand tight around his windblade debating his options. His windblade dissapeared, he held up his hands.

"I surrender, we have an Earth scroll. Let my team go and you can have it."

Naruto narrowed his eyes sheathing his Odachi onto his back. Before dissapearing, reappearing in front of Taichi placing his palm forming a seal that disabled his chakra.

"What the hell did you just do!?" He yelled

"Just a precaution. Who has the scroll?"

Taichi nodded to the puppeteer.

"Eran does. Left pouch."

"Hana."

"On it." Hana searched Erans left pouch finding the earth scroll like he said. She looked at Sai gave him a nod then Naruto and nodded again.

"Deal, once we leave the seal will release itself."

They disappeared into the forest heading for the tower. Taichi fell on his bottom exhausted.

"Damn it, sorry guys."

Later

Naruto, Hana and Sai were tree hopping towards the tower when Naruto felt a malevolent chakra presence press down on the area. He broke out into a cold sweat utterly shocked at the chakra levels of the individual in the forest.

"Guys we have to go now." He whispered body shaking in fear, urgently dashing away at full speed without giving his team time to process what he said. They reappeared at the entrance of the tower. Hana and Sai slightly out of breath from the speed they were moving at.

"Naruto are you ok?"

"Shorty what was that?" They both asked at the same time. Naruto giving Sai a deadpan as the slightly older 15 year old Hana came closer to give him a hug knowing whatever spooked Naruto had to be dangerous.

"What did you feel?" She asked softly her hair tickling his face, his anxious face relaxed in her presence as he thought back to the feeling that person gave him.

"I'm not sure but they had as much chakra as old man Hokage and affinities for every chakra nature. I'm not sure what it is but it didn't feel human."

Sai had a knowing look on his face as he turned to regard the forest behind them.

Danzo-sama must have started the plan to get rid of the third hokage. He's let Orochimaru in the village.

He turned back to his teammates who entered the building.

"Come on Sai!" Hana called out waving him over. He joined up with his team entering the building to reach a wall that had an inscription about heave and earth.

They studied the inscription, read it a few times.

"The scrolls, open them." Hana said.

Naruto unrolled his sealing scroll.

"Release." Both scrolls appeared. Hana and Naruto grabbed one each opening them as smoke starting emitting from their conjoined position.

"It's a summoning jutsu. Get ready." He said placing a hand on his Odachi, Sai unsheathing his tanto and Hana going through handseals.

POOF*

The team relaxed as a jonin wearing standing battle fatigues appeared in front of them.

"Good job squad 111, you've passed the second phase of the chunin exams. Go through that door, your room is 22. The next part starts in 2 days."

2 days later

All the genin stood on the bottom floor as they waited for the ending of the second phase of the chunin exams. The Third hokage stepped forward.

"Congratulations on passing the second phase, these exams are a replacement for war due to an exhorbant amount of you passing we will now conduct preliminaries for the third round. You see there's high profile clients coming to watch the exams and only the best genin can showcase their skills."

"Preliminaries!?"

"I barely made it through the forest!"

"Damn it."

Calls of dismay floated around as the hokage went to continue.

"Hokage-sama, let me take it from here."

"Very well Hayate." A sickly looking jonin with a sword on his back dropped down in front of the assorted genin.

"If you would like to surrder, raise your hand now." He stated. One hand rose prompting a nod from the proctor. A genin with gray hair and glasses walked out of the exam room holding his left arm with many jonin eyes following his exit.

"Look up at the board there, when it lands on your name you'll fight here in this area. Everyone else please wait in the observation area up the stairs." Hayate stated as genin shuffled to the second floor.

The name plated started spinning, landing on Sasuke Uchiha vs Yoroi

"The last Uchiha huh." Hana said looking him over briefly catching narutos frown.

"Aww are you jealous?" She asked, Naruto turning his back on her in response.

"Naruto, Narutoooo."

Other side of the arena

"Look at those clowns messing around when they should be paying attention. " The oto shinobi with two cylinders sticking out his palms stated.

"Kakashi-sensei who are those leaf shinobi?" A pink bubblegum haired girl asked.

Kakashi looked over his book at the leaf shinobi causing being loud on the other side of the area.

You've grown very strong Naruto.

"Hmm?" Kakashi feigned a peek staring back at his book. "They're leaf shinobi just like you, in fact Naruto the ine with blonde hair is the same age as you." Kakashi stated getting a shocked look from Sakura.

"But I've never seen him at the academy. " Sakura stated.

"He graduated a year earlier than you and sent to the reserves."

Sakura looked confused. She thought the reserves were for shinobi that failed the exam.

Cha! How is that girl so beautiful! She better not take Sasukes attention. She thought to herself checking out Hana who continued to poke Naruto in the cheek who tried to ignored her with his eyes closed.

"Choji, do you remember that boy that would come to the playground when we were young?" A dark haired boy with pineapple style hair asked.

"Munch munch, now that you mention it, kind of." He replied continuing to munch on chips.

"What are you two idiots whispering about?" A platinum blond girl asked her two teammates

"Troublesome Ino, Choji and I played with the blonde one a long time ago when we were children. I think his name was Naruto." Shikamaru stated

His outfit is terrible, too much orange but he looks strong. The now named Ino thought to herself.

"Leaf shinobi are soft, to be messing around during the tournament."

"I don't know Kankuro, something about them is putting me on edge. Look at Gaara." Gaara had his eyes fixed on Naruto a hungry smile on his face.

"Yeah im staying far away from that Temari." Kankuro replied.

Back with Naruto

"Winner Sasuke Uchiha!" Hayate announced. The board spun landing on the next two fighters.

"Dosu vs Choji Akimichi."

Skip

"Winner Dosu."

"Well that was unfortunate. " Hana said.

"He didn't know the limits of his own jutsu. It was bound to happen." Naruto replied.

"Shorty is right, he's a poor excuse for an shinobi."

The board spun landing on the next two fighters.

"Subaku Kankuro vs Musumi."

Skip same as Canon

"Subaku Temari vs TenTen. Begin!"

"I hope weapons isn't the only thing she's bringing to this fight." Naruto said.

"Why's that?" Hana asked curious

"Her wind affinity is three times as strong as the two we encountered in the forest. She has no piercing power."

"Maybe she'll surprise us?"

"Are you asking a question or confirming your suspicion?" Naruto asked half chuckling.

"Yes."

Skip fight, same as cannon

"Yamanak Ino vs Haruno Sakura. Begin!"

The two girls closed in throwing basic academy punches, then transitioned into slapping and hair pulling.

"Naruto what the bell am I watching,?"

"Two talented kuno-." He couldn't get it all out without laughing. Hana looked the most murderous he's ever seen her and closed his mouth immediately feeling the killing intent rolling off her In waves.

"Looks like two uglies slapboxing."

"Not now Sai! This is embarrassing. " Hana replied

Skip fight

"Shikamaru vs kin."

Skip fight

"Next fight is Sai vs kiba!"

"Wooo hooo its our turn do well. " Kiba hollered jumping down to the arena floor. Sai walked down the stairs.

"Hey mutt, ready to lose?"

Kiba frothing at the mouth in reaponse.

"Hey proctor start the match so I can beat the shit out of this porcelain faced bastard."

"Inazuka Kiba vs Sai, Begin!"

"I'm going to end this quickly. Akamaru here!" Kiba fed Akamaru a red circle object that increased his chakra output, a feral looking Akamaru jumped on Kibas back.

"Beast scroll: imitation jutsu." A pack of ink dogs materialized from Sai's scroll pouncing at Kiba who jumped finishing his three handseals.

"Manbeast clone."

poof*

Akamaru who now looked identical to Kiba spun shredding the ink dogs sending ink everywhere.

"Twin tunneling fang!" Kiba shouted spinning toward Akamaru-kiba who synced spins twisting in a circle righting itself toward Sai,

"Beast scroll: imitation Bear." He wrote on his scroll as an ink bear lumbered forward hitting the center of the spinning drills.

"Ha! You dummy those ink creatures can't stop us." Kiba arrogantly shouted.

pop* "ahhh"

"arf!. "

The ink bear exoloding as it hit the spinning drills sending Kiba and Akamaru rolling back towards the wall covered in ink.

"Ha that's nothing, Aka-."

"Ink style: sticky net." Kiba was halted as the ink they were covered in solidified pinning them to the arena floor.

"Hey! Let's us up so we can finish you." Kiba started to yell and thrash around only for a tanto to be placed on his neck.

"Surrender or die mutt." Sai stated with a big fake smile.

"We surrender."

"Winner Sai!." Sai walked back up the stairs reuniting with his team.

"Good job Sai!" Hana and Naruto yelled with big grins on their faces.

"You're too loud." He replied with a mask of indifference.

"Whatever, the next fights are about to be announced."

"You're too impatient shorty."

"Shut up Sai or ill fight you next!" Naruto yelled swinging a fist around in mock anger.

"The next fight of the chunin preliminaries

will be Hana Ito vs Subaku Gaara." Squad 41s expressions changed at the announcement. Naruto stuck out a hand trying to find the words he wanted to convey to her.

"He's a serious competitor, I can feel the strength of his chakra and another unfer the surface. Be careful Hana." Naruto stated seriously only to receive her signature smile in return.

"Don't worry, I'm going to win."

"Don't die big ass." Sai said with his eyes closed.

"Awww you do care." She replied. She jumped off the ledge landing in the Fighting area. Gaara walked down to stand accross from her. Hayate stood in the middle eying both competitors who nodded to show they're ready.

"Hana Ito va Subaku Gaara, Begin!" He shouted as a wave of sand surged forth towards Hana.

"Water style: water ball." Hana shot out 20 water bowls at the cascading wave of sand slowing it down enough to dodge to the right flinging kunai and shuriken at Gaara, his automatic response deflected the ninja tools with ease.

"Mother will have your blood." He stated gravely as sand spears shot from the sand covering the arena forcing Hana to weave and dodge. In response Hana shot water balls in the air before immediately switching to different handseals ending with dragon.

"Water style" water dragon jutsu!" She unleashed a massive dragon that charged towards Gaara's position, his automatic defense was blown apart as his body started turning a dark brown.

"What is that? He's covered in some kind of sand armor." She whispered, before throwing herself to the right dodging a wave of Sand spines from slowed sand. She jumped running on the wall then ceiling. She reached into her pouch pulling out an explosive tag that she tied around a kunai handle before tossing it at Gaara. His sand expanded swallowing the explosion.

"Water style: water spears." Spears of water appeared from Gaara's flank leaving a cut on his thigh that bled before his automatic defense regrouped blocking the rest of the water spears.

"MY BLOOD, YOU BITCH!" Gaara went into a rage as his amount of sand trippled swallowing the entire area.

"Sand Tsunami." A tidal wave of sand came at Hana, with nowhere to dodge and no Jutsu capable of piercing it, she threw all her explosive note kunai at the tidal wave barely making a hole she could dive through. She landed on a path of sand that responded with a sand spear that jutted up piercing her thigh and holding her in place.

"Ahhhh." A scream left her lips as she tried to pull it off her leg only for more sand to slowly start crawling up her body, Gaara with a cruel smirk on his face watched in satisfaction at his captured prey struggled to remove the sand. Slowly inch by inch the sand coveted her forcing her hands apart to prevent her from using escape jutsu. The sand was covering everything except her eyes and mouth at this point.

"I'm sorry Naruto..." she whispered.

On the observation ledge

Narutos eyes narrowed into slits.

"You should know me better than that Hana." He stated going through handseals before smacking his hand on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!" He yelled getting surprised and curious looks from the other occupants.

As a sand-covered Hana materialized in the center with a startled "eep," the entire preliminary audience fell into a stunned silence. Every eye in the arena, from fellow ninja to spectators, was fixed on the unprecedented spectacle unfolding before them.

Sakura's jaw dropped, disbelief etched across her face. "Summoning a person? How is that even possible?"

Sasuke, usually composed, raised an eyebrow, his Sharingan focusing intently on the scene. "That's a level of control I didn't expect from a genin. Who is that shinobi?"

Ino leaned over to Shikamaru, whispering, "Is this even allowed? Summoning a person during the exams?"

Shikamaru, with his usual laid-back demeanor, muttered, "Troublesome. This just made things a lot more interesting."

Tenten, gripping her weapon pouch, couldn't hide her astonishment. "Summoning a person? I've never seen anything like this before."

Rock Lee, eyes wide with excitement, exclaimed, "That mysterious genins power and skills are truly miraculous! What a splendid display of youthful energy!"

Hinata, usually reserved, whispered to Kiba, "Naruto-kun has grown so much. It's incredible."

Kakashi, his visible eye widened in disbelief, muttered to himself, "Fuuinjutsu at this level... Naruto, you've grown this much so quickly..."

Gaara, who had been reveling in his apparent victory, stared in disbelief at the sandless Hana. The cruel smirk on his face twisted into a mix of surprise and frustration. "What is this? Another trick?"

On the observation ledge, Hiruzen's pipe slipped from his fingers, and his eyes widened further. "Naruto, you have truly come far with fuuinjutsu," he thought, his fond smile now mingled with a sense of amazement.

Gaara's eyes burned with rage as he realized his missed opportunity to finish off Hana. The sand, once a formidable armor, began to swirl around him in a turbulent frenzy, reflecting the turmoil within. His fists clenched, and the air crackled with the intensity of his fury.

Naruto, having summoned Hana to safety, locked eyes with Gaara, determination radiating from his gaze. "Try anything like that again, and I'll kill you" he declared, obvious to the atomic blush on Hana's cheeks.

The tension thickened, the arena holding its breath, until Hayate stepped forward, his authoritative presence diffusing the brewing conflict. "Enough of that," he commanded, his voice cutting through the charged atmosphere. "Save it for the matches."

The spectators felt a collective exhale as Hayate's words brought a temporary reprieve. He continued, "Now, let's move on to the next match. Shikamaru Nara versus Kin Tsuchi."

Shikamaru, seemingly unfazed by the earlier drama, sighed lazily as he stepped into the arena. On the other side, Kin Tsuchi eyed him with a confident smirk, confident that she could overcome the seemingly indifferent Nara.

Back with squad 111

A still-blushing Hana playfully poked Naruto from behind, wearing a cute pout on her face. The first round of pokes went unnoticed by Naruto, but as the speed doubled, he sighed, finally turning around to face her with a light blush on his cheeks.

"How did you summon me?" Hana asked with curiosity, her eyes gleaming. Naruto gently grabbed her left hand, turning it over to reveal a small seal formula on her wrist. His blush deepened as he explained, "I had to make sure you would be safe."

Crouching down to attend to her injured thigh, Naruto's hands moved with practiced care. "I couldn't let anything happen to you," he replied, his voice soft and earnest.

As Naruto finished wrapping Hana's wounds, Hayate announced Shikamaru as the winner of the previous match. Swiftly moving forward, he continued the proceedings.

"The next match is Shino Aburame versus Zaku Abumi."

Zaku's opponent changed, but the tension lingered. Meanwhile, Sai, the other member of Squad 111, approached Hana to check on her well-being. He wore a neutral expression, but concern flickered in his eyes.

As medics arrived to escort Hana for further treatment, she firmly declined. "Not until after Naruto's match," she insisted, determination shining through her eyes. The medics exchanged glances but respected her wishes, giving her a nod but still lingering.

"Winner, Aburame Shino!" Hayate declared as both contestants returned to their respective teams.

On Team 7, a new figure emerged – a genin with white hair, carrying a katana strapped to his side. A permanent frown etched on his face, he eyed Naruto from across the second-floor observation area. Sai's gaze lingered on the white-haired genin, a fleeting recognition flickering in his eyes before he averted them, the look fading away. Kakashi, sensing the interest, looked down at the scene with a contemplative expression.

"He seems interested in Naruto," Kakashi thought to himself.

Hayate's voice cut through the tension, breaking everyone from their conversations or introspective thoughts. "The next match is Shin versus Uzumaki Naruto," he declared. The white-haired genin, now known as Shin, descended the stairs confidently. On the opposite side, Naruto walked down the stairs to meet him, determination burning in his eyes.

As they faced each other across the arena, the air filled with an unspoken challenge, setting the stage for the next intense battle in the Chunin Exams.

"Come at me with your all, or I will kill you, Uzumaki," Shin declared, his voice devoid of emotion as he unsheathed his katana, a subtle glow surrounding the blade.

Naruto's eyes narrowed at the threat, his sensory jutsu detecting the chakra being imbued in the katana. In response, he unsheathed his Odachi from his back. "Fine," Naruto stated shortly, taking a stance with his Odachi pointed at his opponent.

Shin grunted, increasing the flow of chakra to his blade, causing it to turn white. With determination, he dashed forward, slashing down in an attempt to cut Naruto from head to toe. Naruto, however, skillfully blocked the overhead slash, Shin's eyes widening in surprise as his katana failed to cut straight through Naruto's Odachi.

Seizing the advantage, Naruto stepped to Shin's right side, maintaining pressure on the blade. With a swift motion, he followed up with a reverse horizontal cut. The clash echoed through the arena as Shin stepped back blocking the attack, pivoting to face Naruto once again.

Shin intensified the attack, unleashing a flurry of blows aimed at Naruto's arms, shoulders, and thighs. Naruto proved his capability, skillfully blocking each strike sent his way. As Shin slashed horizontally, Naruto adeptly reposted with a stab, narrowly dodged by Shin as he hopped to the left.

Not relenting, Naruto followed up by throwing his strength into a diagonal slash aimed at Shin's left shoulder. Shin blocked the attack, but the force threw him backward. Swiftly recovering, Shin crouched, seemingly disappearing and reappearing in front of Naruto. He struck at the fingers of Naruto's open hands, prompting him to immediately release his Odachi.

Reacting swiftly, Naruto hopped backward just as Shin hooked his blade onto the guard, throwing it backward away from both of them.

Shin smirked, pointing his katana at Naruto.

"Your kenjutsu skills are lacking Uzumaki."

Narutos response was throwing a rain of shuriken at Shin do ducked, weaves and deflected the shuriken slowly advancing towards a backpeddling Naruto. Naruto pulled a kunai out from his sleeve blocking a slash from shin, he slid his kunai to the guard of the sword, switching grip so he was holding his kunai with his ring finger and pinkie, he tapped the guard of his sword with two fingers, ducked under a slash and jumped backed chucking his kunai at shin who swiped it to the side with his katana.

"You're slipping Uzumaki!" Shin yelled with a deranged look on his face. He closed the distance even faster, chakra leaking from him in waves. He slashed Naruto ducked losing some hair as he mule kicked shin sending him rolling across the ground.

"Activate." Shins katana's weight increased dramatically dropping him and it to the ground with a thud. He struggled to even lift it an inch, releasing it he stood up with clenched fists.

"Damn you Uzu-." Naruto appeared in his guard laying punch after punch into his body, the impact twisting shins body back and forth with each blow, Naruto crouched uppercutting him into the air grabbed his leg before he could get far, slamming him down to the arena floor with a crash.

Shin flipped up and away face leaking blood as he flipped through handseals.

"Lightning Style: lightning ball." Multitudes of lightning balls targeted Naruto forcing hin to weave between them. He back flipped over two, twisting his body in mid air to dodge another only to get clipped in the foot by another sending him to the ground twitching.

"Damn lighting style." He muttered going through handseals with a twitching body,

"Wind Style: Air Bubble." He tilted his head towards his own body releasing his jutsu.

He grit he teeth at the impact of the jutsu on his body. Shin threw a wave of kunai at Naruto, free of the paralyzing effect of the lightning jutsu threw himself away from the deadly projectiles.

"Narutooooo!"

"Shiinnnn!"

They met in the center. Shin threw a right jab at Naruto's face, Naruto slapped it to the side lifting his knee to block a follow up knee from Shin. Shin faked another knee strike twisting into a roundhouse that Naruto blocked twisting his body using his right arm as a guard while throwing a left kick that connected to Shins ribs.

"Damn you!" He shouted holding his side.

Naruto came at him throwing a right hook he went to block only for it to be a feint, his ribs getting hit again throwing him back. Naruto kept up the attack feinting a left kick to his ribs that he fell for receiving a devastating punch to the face that threw him to the ground disorienting him. Shin went to standup only for Naruto to appear with his left palm on his chest, kunai in his right hand underneath his jugular.

Shin looked up seeing cold blue eyes and felt his frustrations grow immensely, knowing there was no way out he laid back defeated.

"Proctor I surrender. "

Naruto walked back up the stairs to his team, Sai gave him a nod and Hana threw herself at him hugging him congratulating him on his victory as he blushed uncontrollably.

Shin laid on the ground for a few minutes letting out a frustrated sigh. He looked up to see the hand of his sensei Kakashi. He took his head bowed following him back up the stairs.

"Thanks sensei." He received an eye smile in response.

Later

"That concludes the prelimaries of the chunin exams. Would each Victor come down and take a number to decide of the order for the chunin exam fights." Hayate stated as Ank walked down with a box holding lots

"Alright line up maggots." The genin lined up taking lots.

"Announce your number!" She continued

"1." Neji stated holding his number to the side.

"2." Naruto said grinning at the challenge.

"3." Gaara monotonously replied armed folded across his body.

"4." Sasuke said clenching his fist at the dangerous opponent he'll face.

"5." Shino stated simply.

"6." Kankuro said grinning.

"7." Temari said a frown on her face.

"8.,Troublesome

"Shikamaru said followed with a sigh.

"9." Dosu said

"10." Sai said simply.

"11." Rock Lee said grinning broadly.

"In 30 days you will fight for the VIPs that come to watch the exam finals."

"What?"

"Let's fight now! "

"Youth!"

"Again the VIPs need time to come to konoha. So train hard genin!"

When the matches announced the genin and jounin left the examination room, treading back through the forest together. To start their training.