Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Inner Secrets ❯ Chapter 7

Disclaimer: As stated before in previous chapters, I do not own Naruto nor anything that ties in with said anime series. Also I do not own the song featured in this chapter. It is Whisper by Evanescence.

 

Pairings: These too are stated in earlier chapters.

 

Warnings: Also noted in earlier chapters.

 

Author Notes: Hey everyone, thank you for so many wonderful reviews. I love how many of you are catching onto any hints I leave in this Fic, but should anyone capture the biggest hint I will dedicate a chapter to them. Also for those who thought chapter 6 was just a filler, I suggest you go back and read as it holds vital details that are important to the plot lines of this story. Also I'd like to apologize for the wait on these chapters, it may be summer, but one can only type so fast after having strained a liegemen in their dominate wrist. Now that I am certain I have talked your ears off, I'll get on with the story. Please read and review. Thanks.

 

Chapter 7

 

"I've found you." A young man said as he silently peered on at the two stationary figures standing not too terribly far away from his hiding spot, crimson eyes that were usually dull were somewhat amused looking, the black comas in their depths were slowly circling in an eerie fashion. "Kage-Gesshoku... prepare to surrender all your secrets...." Uchiha Itachi, S-class missing ninja of Konoha-gakure, whispered on a breathless wind.

 

--------------

 

"I Satsujin Yaiba, son of The Kaze Kiru Koto, Legendary Samurai from the continent to the East, challenge you, Kage-Gesshoku of lineage unknown to me, to a battle to the death. For the honor of my father, my dearly departed mother and wife, for my young daughter and for all I hold dear within my beating heart, I will see your downfall." He said with a dark glare as he pulled his sword arm up and leveled his blade's hilt with his own heart as he pointed its blade towards his opposition.

 

"I, Shadow Assailant, guardian of the people, ninja of the darkest night, accept your challenge to the death, on behalf of all those who I hold precious. May the best win." He said as he too brought his blade up in a similar fashion to the son of a deceased yet famous Samurai.

 

"Any last words before I force you to meet your maker?" The man questioned in his thick accent as he narrowed his eyes at his prey in a dangerous fashion.

 

"None that ought grace the ears of one who shall soon walk the halls of the Netherworld." Naruto answered smoothly, as neither needed any more sign to start, for both rushed forward, swords crashing together in an array of crimson and gold sparks.

 

"For one so seemingly small you have a sturdy arm on you." Satsujin commented as he leapt back a few feet and swung his blade in a sideways arch towards his quarry, who parried it with his own blade, the sound of clashing metal loud in the air as they exchanged blow after blow, dodge after dodge, parry after parry. "Warm up is over." He shouted as his dark eyes narrowed into slits while his blade began to glow a deep crimson as a second blade appeared in the buff samurai's other hand.

 

"Tengoku Ha: Kami Ikari!" The man shouted as he jumped into the air and crossed the blades together to form an X as he plummeted back towards Naruto, crimson chakra licking at the blades.

 

Catch me as I fall

 

"Katon Mihon: Hono'o Kabe!" Naruto shouted as he exhaled a mass wall of flames that stood at a forty-five degree angle to the ground, causing the Samurai to leap into the air, dodging the wall of the raging inferno.

 

Say you're here and it's all over now

 

As Naruto's opponent touched back to the ground he dispersed his flame wall before he ran through a different series of hand seals. "Chikyu Mihon: Gimu-teki na Jigoku Tsurukusa!" He shouted as he slammed both hands to the ground, hidden eyes never once leaving his foe as he touched the ground with great force.

 

Satsujin looked around wearily, still watching the Kage-Gesshoku out of the corner of his eye. "A failed attack?" He whispered under his breath, though all rumination was cut off as the ground below his very wooden sandal covered feet began to tremble, causing him to leap into the air just as several dozen dirt forged vines shot from the earth, their thorns more sharp then many a blade. They wrapped around the airborne man's ankle before rapidly trailing up his body, binding him where he was, thorns drawing the first blood in their match. "First blood goes to you, but victory is still within my grasp!" the dark eyed man proclaimed as he focused his energy.

 

Naruto remained where he stood awaiting his foe's next move. "Allow me to introduce you to the attack that made my father famous." Satsujin stated as a deep black glow began to radiate from the man's body. "Kinjiru Geijutsu: Karada ha Bakuhatsu!" He whispered as the black glow broke into solid blades which were expelled from his body, slicing the vines to pieces before striking the ground all around making the blond leap in order to dodge, though not before one of the blade hit his left arm drawing much blood from a jagged wound.

 

"Second blood to you." Naruto said as the dust rose in the air concealing him. "But no more shall be spilled from me." He added quietly as he focused on the other's life force.

 

Speaking to the Atmosphere

No one's here and I fall into myself.

 

'Kyuu... lend me your strength.' He silently pleaded and was rewarded with his chakra ways being replenished by the burning sensation of the crimson chakra from the demon within. 'Thank you.' he whispered silently.

 

This truth drives me into madness

 

"Tenshin Uingu: Tengoku-teki Mihon!" Naruto said quietly as to not give his position away as white wings of pure chakra appeared on the cloaked blond's back, and without a second's hesitation he leapt silently to the skies as he formed a new set of hand seals. "Kori Mihon: Ame ga furu Okugi!"

 

I know I can stop the pain if I will it all away...

 

The clouds over the dueling duo darkened and soon ice formations grew visible as the dust below began to settle, revealing the hazy form of the Samurai on the ground, head moving each way for any indication of his enemy. Massive spears of ice formed in the blackened sky before they fell at a rapid pace towards the ground in a great barrage, sending dirt and ice particles flying.

 

"What sorcery is this?!?" Satsujin muttered darkly to himself as he watched the sky with a critical eye while dodging the frozen and falling pikes that could be the death of him should one run him through. He raised his blade in a great mighty arch and cleaved the ice that was flying quickly towards him in two before dodging a second one that struck where he had stood mere seconds before.

 

Don't turn away

Don't give in to the pain

Don't try to hide

 

A pike nicked his thigh in a long scratch that was just deep enough to draw a small dribble of blood from his toned thigh which stained the leg of his hakama pants though he ignored it as he cleaved through more falling and felled ice spears. "Kage-Gesshoku, show yourself!" He called in a rage as he shattered another falling pike that seemed to be one of the last of the assault.

 

Though they're screaming your name

Don't close your eyes

 

Naruto landed on one of the pikes that had deeply impaled the earth yet still stood tall, his wings vanishing as he dismissed them. Hidden blue eyes scanned the ruins of dirt and ice looking for his prey. 'Where did he go...?' He asked himself when he heard a ruffling noise behind him causing him to spin about face, bringing his sword up to block a downwards slash from the Samurai.

 

God knows what lies behind them

Don't turn out the light

Never sleep, never die

 

Both of them pushed back on their blades causing them to be thrown several feet back to the slippery edge of the massive ice pike, neither one falling, though Satsujin was the first to recover and move as he sprung forward with a mighty cry.

 

I'm frightened by what I see

But somehow I know that there's much more to come

 

In a vertical slash, Satsujin brought his blade down on the one Naruto rose to defend, but the Samurai's blade sliced clean through the blade, scattering broken pieces which flew and nicked the two of them, before it continued its downward path, placing a deep cut on his opponent's chest. It ran from mid chest down to just above the naval, slicing through cloth, leather, skin, and part way through even the muscle; earning him a cry as the masked ninja fell backwards from the ice spear and landed with a rough thud to the ground. Wind completely knocked out of him in a whoosh of air.

 

Immobilized by my fear

And soon to be blinded by tears

 

Satsujin leapt from the ice tower and pointed his blade downwards so that when he struck it would pierce the heart of his adversary. Seeing this, Naruto rolled to the side at the last second, dodging the blow as the man drove his sword to the hilt in the earth, successfully getting it stuck. Naruto didn't miss this opening and formed a set of hand seals while in a crouched position, blood flowing rapidly from his gaping wound and staining the earth crimson.

 

I can stop the pain if I will it all away

Don't turn away

Don't give in to the pain

 

"Tsuchi Mihon: Jimen Kureta!!" Naruto said in a pain filled voice as the ground shook before splitting into two, both standing on one side of the twelve metre gap. Naruto had a hand to his bleeding chest as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. With a deep breath he brought both his hands forward forming a set of cross seals, while the Samurai attempted to remove his blade from the stones.

 

Don't try to hide

Though they're screaming your name

Don't close your eyes

 

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He cried and two corporeal clones appeared on either side of him and together they each formed a different set of seals before simultaneously finishing them as they cried out the name of the assault. "Mizu, Tsuchi, Kaze Sutairu: Hariken Sanbusaku!!"

 

God knows what lies behind them

Don't turn out the light

Never sleep, never die

 

A massive wind began to swirl above the crater that Naruto's ground ninjutsu had caused, the wind whipping and ensnaring dirt, rocks, ice, and water particles, spinning into a dark and murky column that steadily grew larger and larger. "Wicked..." Naruto whispered with a smirk that went unseen as this was the first time he had ever used such a move, and he had to admit it was rather flashy.

 

The roaring of wind and the collision of debris sounded loud, dulling all other noises as all things unattached to the earth and a few things that were ripped right up. Naruto leapt several paces backwards as the swirling tower of sheer chaos grew to massive stature, likely to be visible from a great distance. 'Perhaps this move will add a new name to your already growing list.' Kyuubi suggested as he eyed the storm. 'Something along the lines of Kage Arashi. Meaning Shadow Storm as it seems to fit.'

 

Fallen Angels at my feet

Whispered voices at my ears

 

'I suppose Satsujin has plenty of eyes within the fortress, each of which are watching this battle, though hopefully none of them have a recording device. After all... I only perform live.' Naruto joked merrily as he dispelled his two clones with an absent wave of his hand. 'But I must hurry and end this soon... My chest wound will hinder me and slow me down too much if it drags on any longer.' Naruto admitted with a sigh, knowing that it would take some time to heal, even with Kyuubi's legendary chakra and healing prowess.

 

A battle cry to his left rang loud and clear, causing him to whirl around just in time to see Satsujin bring his blade down. Backed into a corner, Naruto did the only thing he could, he brought his chakra enhanced hands up and caught the blade, both at a fierce some standstill, Samurai eyes locked into the shadowed face of his opponent. With two glares, one seen the other felt, Naruto let out a battle cry of his own before his twisted his hands to the side, successfully cracking the blade causing the other's eyes to widen as he leapt back several meters.

 

He then eyed the blade. "No one has ever scratched, let alone cracked my blade before. I wholly admit that you are a most worthy adversary... but I must end this now!" He finished with a shout as he brought his blade up, pointing its tip to the sky as he placed his free hand, palm first, onto the cracked weapon. Both his hand and the sword expelled a great crimson light before black lighting surrounded the crimson blade. "Your maker awaits your arrival!" He proclaimed as he lunged forward.

 

"Buki Furuiokosu: Akurei Kokuo Ken!" Naruto shouted as a sphere of blue light appeared in front of him. Without a second's hesitation, he put is right hand into the glow and pulled it out, a great broadsword in hand. It was as black as night, with kanji scriptures all over the blade, while silver vines with thorns covered the hilt and trailed up the sword. Not a second too soon.

 

Death before my eyes

Laying next to me I fear

She beckons me shall I give in

Upon my end shall I begin

 

Swords clashed together in an angry spray of smouldering sparks, as mortal metal clashed with demonic metal. A thrum of power so palpable it shot off in a wave around them, visible to the naked eye as it blew much out of its path before it slowly lost its force several meters away from the dueling duo. Blades pulled back before striking out again, in either offense or defense, as the two danced a complex dance, circling around the other, stepping back where the other stepped forward, Hurricane winds, and damage forgotten.

 

It was as though time around the dueling duo froze, for no actions warranted their attention, so it slipped away into a foggy background as sword occasionally nicked at skin, creating either shallow cuts or angry red welts. "Kyah!" Naruto shouted as he drove his sword past an opening, running his blade through the man's right shoulder, before he pulled back with haste so as to not give the wounded man an opening.

 

Forsaking all I've fallen for

I rise to meet my end.

Don't turn away

 

Satsujin cringed at the feel of a blade penetrating the flesh and muscle of his right shoulder, and could have sworn he felt the blade nick the bone, though he was given no time to dwell on that before the blade switched directions and exited his body in a rush of crimson blood that splurged as crimson rain. With a determined look, the Samurai switched his blade to his uninjured arm with fluid grace. It was good that he was ambidextrous as his right arm was rendered next to useless.

 

Don't give in to the pain

Don't try to hide

Though they're screaming your name

 

The man's life force was rushing from his body in a furious wave, more so than the wound he had given the Kage-Gesshoku to the chest, causing his hand to grow unsteady whereas his eyes remained as determined as even. He wouldn't go down without one hell of a fight. With narrowed eyes he jabbed his blade forward with as much speed and strength as he could muster. His strike, fast as a lunging serpent, was blocked by the great blade of his enemy who then pulled back and aimed a jab back at the man, catching him right in the heart before exiting the man's back.

 

Both stood frozen. One shocked due to having actually dealt the killing blow, the other shocked that he had failed. A second that seemed to last an eternity passed, and the cloaked ninja withdrew his blade in the second crimson ark he made that day, splattering not only himself, but the ground as well with the Samurai's dark blood.

 

Don't close your eyes

God knows what lies behind them.

 

"You... win..." Satsujin whispered as blood drizzled down the side of his mouth as he crumbled to his knees, strength gone. "I have failed....I underestimated you... My misjudgement...was...my downfall..." He whispered whimsically as he fell on his back, pained eyes looking up at the sky above. "I... h..ha..ve... a ......request...." He stated through the gurgling of blood in his mouth and throat as he diverted his attention to the other who was kneeling at his side. "M...may... I... s..s...see... your...face?" He asked, knowing that he was soon to die.

 

"Of course..." Naruto answered in a subdued voice as he reached up and removed the mask from his face, the blond felt he owed the other that much at least, and blue eyes met dark ones.

 

"My...pet...w...wa...s...right..." He said with a chuckle with turned into a gagging cough as the other replaced his mask to cover the tears that were slowly filling his innocent blue eyes. "Be...strong...n..never...forget...me...." He forced out just as his chest stilled, and his eyes lost their deep light. He was dead.

 

Don't turn out the light

Never sleep never die

 

"Father....?" A female voice asked causing the re-masked blond to slowly spin on heel, tears leaking from his mask like falling crystals. At the opened gate of the Solar fortress stood a small and dainty looking young woman, hands clasped to her chest as she stared at the lifeless form of her father admits the destruction of the battle field. "...Daddy..." She whispered as though her words would cause the fallen man to rise yet again.

 

"Arcanania?" Naruto asked tentatively after he had gotten his emotions back into check. The young woman's eyes, which were so very much like her father's, snapped to him. "I'm sorry..." He whispered as she quietly approached him, easily side-stepping all the rubble with grace of a dancer.

 

"Are... you his executioner?" She asked as she came to a halt in front of the figure who was shorter then herself. A nod was gifted to her, causing her to continue forward, stopping only a foot away from the cloaked man. She silently studied Naruto before her brought shaky hands up and pulled his hood down, revealing his semi-long and jagged spiky blond hair, and Naruto made no move to bring the hood back up as the girl then removed his mask.

 

"You are just a child..." She stated, her sad look being replaced by a strange emotion. "And yet... your eyes hold more wisdom and maturity then many." She commented as her shaking hand caressed the small boy's cheek. "I... hold no anger nor grudge against you... Though I loved my father dearly I did not approve of his methods to reach his end.... And since you first destroyed his other bases I did all the research I could on you." She explained as she pulled away from the blond and knelt at her father's side.

 

"I learned of all you have done. You do what you do to protect the innocent... And for that I am grateful. You stopped my father before he could go too far. You saved his soul from growing too black..." She whispered to herself, though the demon vessel easily heard her words as he replaced his mask and hood.

 

She timidly reached up and closed her father's eyes for the last time as tears trickled down her fair cheeks as the wind gently whipped at her long black hair. "For all his faults he was a great father." She explained tearfully as she closed her eyes before standing up. "You ought destroy the Solar base." She said as she turned and regarded the boy before her.

 

"You need not worry about killing anyone, as they all fled the moment you delivered the blow to his heart." She stated as she frowned. "They weren't loyal nor were they brave. Cowards..." She sighed as she wiped the tears from her face. "Destroy this place, and burry my father, for I have not the heart to." She ordered with sad eyes.

 

"Of course.." Naruto said with a nod.

 

"Thank you... With those tasks done, these things can go to where they belong: my memories." She finished with a small, sad smile before she turned and began to walk off, though only got a few paces before she stopped. "Kage-Gesshoku?" She asked as she turned back around gaining the blond's full attention.

 

"Yes Arcancania?" He asked, his voice illusion back in place.

 

"Be strong... you need not shed tears for my father. Your heart is far too beautiful to be in pain." She advised with an honest but sad smile as she turned and walked away, disappearing into the woods leaving the blond to comply with her last wishes.

 

Using a simple Katon jutsu, he burnt the once impressive fortress down, watching the smouldering crimson flames destroy the once precious place of a man he had killed. Some how... it filled his heart with a sort of ease, one that allowed him a small smile as he buried the man and inscribed a stone with his name and deeds so that all who would pass by the area would know that it was a place where a great Samurai had fallen.

 

Naruto sighed softly to himself as he felt the remainder of his chest wound close before whispering a silent thank you to the fox.

 

"Kage-Gesshoku." a voice stated, causing said person to whirl around, shocked and on edge at having been caught off guard.

 

'He slipped by all my senses...' Naruto thought as he eyed the dark haired man before him, crimson eyes locked onto his own masked face. 'He looks an awful lot like... oh crap...' He inwardly cursed at his luck as the man dressed in the garbs of the Akatsuki walked closer, stopping only when he was three meters away. 'Its Uchiha... Uchiha Itachi...' Naruto thought while wishing he had a pole to thwack his head against. "Uchiha Itachi." Naruto stated back calmly as he eyed up the S-Class nin who was way out of his league.

 

"I have seen your face..." Itachi stated coldly, ignoring the hurricane that was still roaring destruction in the growing distance as it moved on its own path, slowly growing smaller. "And soon... I will know all there is to know about you.... as was ordered." He concluded uncaringly, voice holding not a hint of emotion.

 

"But..." The older ninja began. "You seem.... familiar. Those markings upon your cheeks I have seen before. Uzumaki Naruto." The man stated. "I was ordered to learn all I could about you... in order to try and force your hand into joining the Akatsuki, but that is no longer plausible as you are one of the demon bearers." He concluded, sounding as if he was commenting on drying paint.

 

"Seeing as I am indeed one of the targets you seek will you take me now?" Naruto asked in a calm manner.

 

"No." The missing ninja answered simply. "You have... much promise. For one so young you have developed skills beyond your peers, even surpassing some of your superiors." He paused. "I wish to see where this will lead, I wish to see what you can become. Know this; I will learn all there is to know about you, and then I will decide my decision. Farewell Naruto-kun." Itachi finished before he vanished from sight without a sound or a smoke bubble.

 

'I think... we should be cautious from this point on... He is likely to become our newest shadow, but we needn't hide anything from him seeing as he already knows of your secret life. After all, he will likely discover anything we hide with enough time as I doubt we well be able to truly know if he is watching us.' Kyuubi said with a sigh as he paced inside his vessel's mind.

 

'Very well. I will be cautious for we know not what his plans or intentions are, meaning it could range from one thing to anything else entirely.' Naruto thought with a frown as he pulled his arm up and pressed a button on his communications device. "Kyo?" He called into it, having grown well accustomed to the use of it during his adventures.

 

"Yes?" The familiar accented voice asked.

 

"I need all the information you can get for me on Uchiha Itachi and the Akatsuki organization." He stated in an emotionless voice.

 

"Alright..." Kyo said, sounding a little unsure of the request. "Is there to be a change in the plan?" He questioned wondering if the Kage-Gesshoku was still following the plan set out for the order of organizations to destroy.

 

"No... The plan remains unchanged, I just want to be prepared for everything as I feel that the Akatsuki will cause many problems..." Naruto explained in a non detailed, non elaborate fashion.

 

"Very well, all data has been sent, see ya!" The man called cheerfully before he cut the connection without waiting for a farewell.

 

'He sounded worried at the prospect of an altered plan... I think he may be up to something and he is planning on using us to meet that end.' Kyuubi warned with a troubled frown.

 

'I know... He is up to something, but we won't likely know what that something is for a time still. So for now let us just go with the flow, but be cautious around him as we are with Uchiha-san.' Naruto stated as he looked over at the destruction. 'This might be harder than it sounds..'

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

"Good morning Sasuke-san, Sakura-san." Naruto greeted his teammate's with a wave as he approached the two who were randomly there on a well fenced in road, waiting for him.

 

Sakura made a noise of displeasure at his arrival while Sasuke merely glared in a moping fashion. 'Okay... What crawled up their butts and died?' He asked with an annoyed inward sigh.

 

"You're late!" Sakura said in a tight fashion while glaring her mother of all death glares at the blond. "We were told to meet here over two hours ago!" Sakura screeched, while she cracked her knuckles in a threatening manner.

 

Naruto blinked once then twice. "Oh yeah!" He exclaimed after a moment. "I forgot that we were meeting today." He admitted honestly. "I guess it was a good thing I decided to go for a walk, otherwise I might not have met up with you two here." He said as he ran a hand through his jagged locks.

 

"Your absent-mindedness will get you killed if you don't start acting like a proper ninja! Heck what if your stupidity gets Sasuke-kun hurt!?!" Sakura demanded as she turned starry eyes over to her beloved Uchiha of the Angst.

 

"Yo! Sorry I'm late!" The voice of their silver haired instructor cut in, leaving no room for any more arguments that were basically just a one sided rant by a certain pink haired girl. "You see my neighbor's daughter's sister's cousin's ex-boyfriend's dog's owner managed to get a round hair brush stuck in her hair and they needed my help to get it out." He explained with a curved eye.

 

All three genin ranked ninja blinked once, twice, thrice before the whole excuse managed to sink in. "Liar!!" Sakura declared after a moment to compose herself, while Naruto was inwardly snickering at the last excuse wondering how long the man actually spent devising excuses, or if he had some great book of excuses hidden away somewhere.

 

"I just came to let you know that we aren't doing anything today! You're all free as I have a meeting to go to... which I'm late for...." Kakashi quietly added the last part before he poofed out of existence with a cheerful wave that matched his three-quarter of the way hidden expression.

 

"You two are weak!" Sasuke muttered as he tucked his hands in his pocket before slinking off in a sulking manner causing Naruto to blink, while Sakura simply looked utterly crushed.

 

'Sasuke-kun thinks I'm weak!!!' Sakura silently wailed as inner Sakura struggled to remain standing at such a blunt yet crushing blow. Naruto watched the girl in her inward struggle before he turned around to look at the square bow slinking into view, amused at the two visible eye holes.

 

"Konohamaru-kun..." Naruto sighed as he regarded the worst ninja stealth technique to seemingly exist. "I know its you and your friends." He stated with a small smile.

 

"Drat!" A slightly muffled voice filtered out from the box, "I knew you were great, but to see through our disguise with such ease is incredible Naruto-nii-san!!" The boy cheered happily before the box exploded with a loud crack, followed by the roadway being plunged into a smoke screen, caused by using way too much gun powder.

 

Once the smoke cleared, both Sakura and Naruto were looking at three young children, each wearing a set of black goggles. "Uhh... What's with the goggles?" Naruto asked with an amused expression, never regretting the day he had befriended the three by saving them from a bunch of bullies at the ninja academy.

 

"We look up to you, so we thought that maybe if we pick up on your habits, new and old, we might just turn out so awesome like you Naruto-nii-san!" Moegi chirped up happily, her two male friends nodding in agreement while they all looked at the taller and older blond with adoration and respect.

 

"Awww! You guys are making me blush." He mumbled in embarrassment as he ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I'm sure you guys will be great in your own rights once you are old enough." He encouraged them, knowing that it would help them to have self confidence.

 

"Yo! Boss?" Konohamaru spoke up as he regarded the sneering pink haired thing. "Is that a slug stalking you?" He asked as he pointed at Sakura, who looked down right pissed at the slug comment directed at her.

 

"Nope! That's only Sakura-san, she's on my team." He answered while smiling, though it was short lived as she charged over to him and punched him over the head, sending him crashing into the fence wall.

 

"What the hell are you doing?!?!?!" Konohamaru demanded as his two closest friends rushed to the blond's side, while he placed himself between Naruto and the pink haired creep. "Are you trying to kill him you ugly, giant foreheaded banshee??!?!" He yelled with a scowl, already not liking the girl.

 

"What... did you call me?" She asked in a sickly sweet voice as she brought a fist up, the veins sticking out. She was beyond pissed.

 

"Konohamaru get out of here!" Naruto said as he got to his feet, hand running over the massive lump on his head, inwardly wishing he could have dodged, but he couldn't if he didn't wish to reveal too much. He really didn't like her. She was as bad, if not worse than those men...' Don't think about them!' He silently ordered himself as he watched the honorable grandson race off, the pink thing from hell hot on his tale.

 

Naruto sighed before he rushed after the two, Konohamaru's two friends following a few steps behind. They didn't make it very far before the small grandson of the Third Hokage smashed into a stranger, falling flat on his behind, head whirling momentarily before he looked up at the person.

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

"Now that everyone is here." Sarutobi began while directing a pointed look over at the silver haired jounin who had just decided to join them now, two hours after the set meeting commencement. "I would like to hear the progress of the Rookie nine." He stated, hands folded absently on his paper covered desk. "Ladies first." He said with a kindly smile at Kurenai.

 

She nodded at the village leader, crimson eyes trailing around the room in a sharp manner. "My team has progressed greatly. We have completed 16 D-Ranked missions, and 7 C-ranked ones. Team work between Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Hinata has improved greatly." She concluded simply, having nothing of importance to speak of other then the progress they had made.

 

Asuma sighed as he took a deep puff of his cigarette before blowing it out in a great breath of smoke. "My team is doing well. They have completed19 D-Ranked missions, 6 C-Ranked ones and one B-Ranked one. They are doing well, but Shikamaru is one hell of a genius even though he is the laziest person I have ever met. If I could get him more interested in ninjutsu instead of clouds he'd be quite a force to be reckoned with." He concluded, going back to his cigarette.

 

As he finished, everyone else directed their attention to the late comer Hatake Kakashi. "Maa... I suppose it's my turn." He said with a happy quirk to his eye. "They are doing fine. 15 D-Ranked missions, 2 C-ranked and one A-Ranked mission." He said before pausing, ignoring the shocked looks from his colleagues. "Sasuke and Naruto are able to work together on small scale, and Sakura doesn't do very much." He commented with a thoughtful look.

 

"Something tells me there is more." Sarutobi said, the underlined order to continue going well heard.

 

"Yeah... There are some strange things that would perhaps be considered important, and they, for the most part, started on our C turned A Ranked mission." He began, inwardly longing for the meeting to be over so that he could go read his Icha Icha Paradise. "As detailed in the report, Tazuna-san requested simple protection from the regular bandits and thieves for his trip back to the land of the Waves, but he forgot to mention that a powerful business-man sought his life as his annual income's high depended on the failure to complete the bridge that our client was to build.

 

"As Gato was a wealthy man, he was able to hire many a henchmen, nuke-nin included. On the way there, we encountered the Demon Brothers, and Sasuke took care of them as Naruto froze and Sakura merely went up to defend out client. After that we learnt the more specific details that our client forgot to mention, and we were going to return to Konoha as Naruto was injured by a poisoned blade." He paused with a thoughtful look as the recalled that day. "But we didn't turn back and he forced the poison from his body with his own kunai, vowing to see the mission through, which I admit was really cool but highly dangerous.

 

"So we continued, and then encountered Momochi Zabuza, traitor of the Mist. He and I ended up battling, though by a foolish error on my part, he managed to immobile me within a water prison, leaving my Genin and Tazuna-san to fend for themselves against his water clone. Even after I ordered them to flee, they remained and by spectacular teamwork on Naruto and Sasuke's part, they managed to free me. Long story short: We fought, he escaped and we were left with a week to prepaid for the next encounter.

 

"Due to injuries caused in the battle, I was unable to do very much, so I instructed them in the art of tree watching. Sakura managed on her first attempt, but after several tries she began to grow exhausted. Naruto and Sasuke on the other hand took most of that week just learning it, Sasuke seems to have mastered it, but Naruto is still slightly shaky." He stopped and eyed his colleagues, each wearing different expressions, before he looked over at Sarutobi who nodded in a way that meant for him to continue.

 

"After I recovered, and I was positive of their progress, all four of us accompanied Tazuna-san to the bridge only to find all the other workers dead, handy work of Zabuza himself, along with his partner in crime who bore the mask of a hunter. But before we could get into anything a third person showed, a massive hell hound of myth in tow." He paused for dramatic emphasis.

 

"The man went by the name of Satsujin Yaiba." Kakashi stated.

 

"The Satsujin Yaiba?!" Kurenai demanded, crimson eyes wide as she sat up straight.

 

"Yup. Son of the famous Samurai: The Kaze Kiru Koto." Kakashi nodded, as he had looked into all he could in regards of that strange mission "The Hell Hound, Hikari I do believe was it's name, was hot on the trail of the Kage-Gesshoku."

 

"What?!?" Asuma chocked out, coughing violently as he had swallowed his cigarette with that exclamation. "Shit! The Shadow Assailant is a living legend! He has done so much, and his names are well known. I've read plenty on that little guy, he has enough known feats to have a book dedicated to his life's work." He breathed out, inwardly cringing at having a cigarette literally in his stomach.

 

"Why was Satsujin-san looking for him?" Kurenai asked curiously, as she wasn't one to read the papers, though she did tend to listen in to gossip which was how she knew much about the cloaked ninja.

 

"I know the answer to that." Sarutobi stated with a sigh. "According to one of my informants Satsujin was the leader of an organization of collectors that swindled, black mailed and even killed just to posses the artifacts of master quality. Said organization had three bases, Rise, Set and Solar, or so they were named, and not too long before the mission in the land of Waves, I learnt that Rise and Set had been annihilated by our Shadowy friend." He finished as he picked up his pipe and absently smoked the smouldering weeds.

 

"Yes... He did mention something about seeking revenge on the Kage-Gesshoku, and had used his hound to sniff the ninja's scent, which lead straight to the bridge we were on. He then ordered to hound to show him to his nemesis, and it took him straight over to Naruto. The man went over and spoke to the blond, but I didn't hear much of that conversation, just broke bits that make no sense, but I saw the man backhand Naruto, but that was all I saw as Haku--Zabuza's partner-- stepped in and blocked me, the Genin and our client in a dome of ice mirrors which were a part of the boy's bloodline limit." He continued.

 

"Beyond that I do not have a clur of what truly happened, as by the time I managed to get Sakura and Tazuna-san from the icy prison the man was gone. But Zabuza did tell me to leave Naruto alone when he stopped me from going to make sure he was alright. He told me that Naruto had failed his master, and would have to tell the Kage-Gesshoku of Satsujin's challenge." He concluded, any parts he had omitted in the meeting had been said in the mission report that he still had to hand in.

 

"I don't see how that kid can be in servace to that guy..." Asuma muttered as he pulled out another cancer stick and set it alight.

 

"But it is possible." Sarutobi spoke up as he looked at them with a serious look. "After all... The Kage-Gesshoku took up that challenge." He said as he pulled a document up from his desk. "I have a live account from a witness to the battle. He said that his boss and the ninja fought full out, using blades and ninjutsu that has only been heard of in legends and fairytales. He spoke of masive hurricanes, raining ice pikes, crators appearing in the ground and of the death blow delt to Satsujin Yaiba."

 

"He's dead!?!?!" Kurenai exclaimed in shock.

 

"Yes... This all happened just this morning. Tell me Kakashi, was Naruto at the meeting you had shedualed for today?"

 

Kakashi nodded. "Yes, he along with Sasuke and Sakura were waiting for me." He said as he knew not of the happenings before his arrival. "What do you think?" He asked curiously.

 

"I think... We all need to keep a closer eye on Naruto, as all the clues seem to be pointing to him being the assistant to the Shadow Assailant... and if that is true we may just grasp a powerful allie, which would be benificial as spies report growing armies in the other lands." He said calmly.

 

"Now... Onto more important matters." Sarutobi began after a long silence throughout his office. "Konoha will be hosting the next Chunin exam shortly, and I was wondering if you believe any of the rookie nine ought enter."

 

All three Jounin looked contemplative for a moment before each nodded in an indication that they were all of the mind that their students had what it takes to become the next group of Chunin for the village. "Well that's shocking..." Sarutobi whispered to himself before waving with his hand to indicate that they were all dismissed.

 

- - - - - - - - - -

 

"You really need to watch where you are walking pipsqueak." A boy wearing a dark jump suit, with strange marking on his face and a bandaged bundle on his back spoke up, eyes narrowed eerily down at the small boy who had just crashed into him, his ninja band branded with the symbol of Sunagakure shining in the sun light.

 

A girl at the boy's side nodded, her blond hair up in four spiked-pineapple like ponytails, and hands on her hips, crinkling the waist material of her dress, hiking the bottom up a few inches to reveal much of her mesh under dress. On her neck was a ninja band with the same symbol as was on the boy's.

 

"Konohamaru!" Moegi cried as the group caught up with the boy, just in time to see the stranger from sand grab him by the front of the shirt and dangle him in the air.

 

"That hurt brat." The boy said in a dangerous voice as he leered menacingly at the kid, having ignored the arrival of the others.

 

"Let him go." Naruto ordered in a cold voice as he stepped forward, drawing the attention of the ninja from Sand. The boy scowled while the girl merely blushed lightly as she eyed him.

 

'He's cute.' The girl thought before she turned her attention to her brother. "Kankuro, knock it off we don't want to get in trouble." She muttered as she wearily eyed the area, not wanting to think what would happen if the third member of their team was there.

 

"I just want to play with him while we wait for that nuisance to get here." The boy identified as Kankuro said. Raising his free arm he aimed a fierce punch at the kid's stomach, though his hand stopped half-way there. 'What the?' He asked as he looked down at the hand that had a bruising grip on his arm before he looked to the arm's owner. 'I didn't even see this kid move!' He thought in shock. 'He looks only to be a Genin... I best keep an eye on Konoha's Genin... it would suck if they were all like him...'

 

"Release him." Naruto ordered as he twisted the boy's wrist with an audible crack, and the boy hastened to comply.

 

'So cool...' Temari thought as she watched Naruto work. 'I wonder if all the guys here are like him?' She frowned at that thought while her brother dropped the kid back onto his feet and pulled his hand away from the blond.

 

"I'm going to kick your ass punk!" Kankuro said with narrowed eyes as he brought his uninjured arm up, a dozen threads latching onto the blond. "I have complete control over all your actions." He said with a grin as he looked at the threads attached to the blond. "Oww!" He shouted as a rock hit his head, causing him to look up and over at a tree where a dark haired teen sat in a relaxed position, a rock being tossed up and down in the boy's hand.

 

"What are you doing in my village?" Sasuke asked as he fixed the two with an uncaring look.

 

'He's cool too.' Temari thought with a second blush before looking back at the blond who was completely out of her brother's threads. 'How did he get out?' She silently asked, before looking at her brother who was tangled in threads. 'O...kay?'

 

'The hell...?' Kankuro asked himself as he blinked down at the threads which he had just entangled himself from. 'A second brat... but the first one seems more dangerous...' Kankuro thought with a gulp. Maybe this exam wouldn't be the piece of cake he had earlier anticipated.

 

"Get lost." Sasuke ordered as he caught the rock he had been tossing up and down in his fist and crushed it into dust that he let the wind blow away.

 

"How cool!!!" Sakura squealed, her eyes all heart filled as she gushed over her crush.

 

"Whoa! Naruto-nii-san you are so cool." Konohamaru whispered with a thumbs up to the blond who winked at the boy.

 

'Naruto... do you know how to flirt?' Kyuubi asked randomly, causing Naruto to blink owlishly. 'I'll take that as a no. This is what I want you to do:...' He whispered to his blond tenant, even though there was no chance of being over heard. Naruto nodded inwardly as he listen to the fox's words, planning to give it a try.

 

After several seconds on a quick tutorial and battle plan, Naruto stepped forward, moving until he was a few feet away from the blond girl. "I apologize for my teammate's crude behavior, he forgets his manners in the presence of such a beautiful lady." Naruto said in a smooth tone as he scooped up Temari's hand and gently brushed his lips across her knuckles before releasing her fair hand.

 

The girl blushed a deep crimson as she brought her hand up to her chest and held it like a precious gem. 'He is so hot!' She inwardly cheered as she eyed the blond. 'I wonder if he's single...' she asked silently, hoping that he was. "I'm Temari, and this is my brother Kankuro." She said with a small smile, which was wiped right off her face as a familiar chill raced down her spine.

 

"Kankuro! Temari!" A cold and deadly calm voice spoke up causing everyone to look over at the tree where a red headed boy stood, feet to the bottom of a branch near Sasuke, who looked stunned at the other's appearance.

 

'His aura... it's familiar...' Kyuubi whispered to Naruto who was eyeing the newcomer, taking in the dark circles around his eyes, and the tattoo of love written in Kanji.

 

"You're a disgrace to our entire village." The boy added as he crossed his arms over his chest, almost as though he were disproving of the other two's behavior.

 

"Gaa...Gaara..." Kankuro said in a nervous fashion, sweat dripping down his make up covered face, betraying his nervousness.

'Gaara..." Naruto silently thought with a frown. 'I've heard of him somewhere...' He continued, frowning at his lack of recollection on the boy before him, who suddenly vanished in a whirl of sand, reappearing on the ground behind the two other Sand ninja.

 

'He snuck up on me... his skills of stealth must rival Kakashi-sensei..' Sasuke thought while appraising the red head.

 

"It annoys me that you would loose control in a mere quarrel with children. Have you forgotten why we've come here?" Gaara inquired as he glared at his two siblings.

 

'The way he said that makes it sound as though he has different plans than the upcoming exam which I'm not supposed to know about...' Naruto thought with a frown, vowing to add the red head to the growing list of people to watch.

 

"But Gaara." Kankuro whined pitifully. "They started it! That midget with the goggles slammed into me!" He explained with the hope of the red head forgiving him.

 

"Shut up... Or I'll kill you." Gaara said calmly, giving his brother two choices. Only an idiot would choose the latter over the former and Kankuro was no idiot when it came to Gaara's warnings. The boy visibly trembled at the threat while the girl gulped in fear, hoping her little red headed, green-eyed brother wouldn't resort to killing them.

 

"You're right of course! So I was out of line Gaara." Kankuro said with a quivering voice as he nervously fidgeted where he stood.

 

"We're really, really sorry Gaara." Temari whispered in hopes to appease her brother's blood lust.

 

'So he's the one in charge... his gaze as lethal as that of a Basilisk...' Both Naruto and Sasuke thought with an appraising eye.

 

"I apologize for their behavior." Gaara said, sounding completely insincere in his words. "I know we have arrived early, but we didn't come here to play around." He stated as he directed his attention from the boy genin boy, to his siblings. "Let's go." He ordered as he put his back from the Konoha Genin and trainees.

 

"Wait!" Sasuke called. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke, what is yours?" The dark haired genin asked he leapt down from his perch.

 

"Gaara... of the Desert." The red head said before looking at Naruto. "You are?"

 

"Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto." The blond said with a wink as he too turned his back to the foreigners. "I look forward to see you three during the Exams." He said before he walked away, eyes looking to three shadowed figures in a tree while his arms were arms crossed behind his head as he went off to tend to things that needed tending too.

 

"Exams?" Sakura asked aloud, having heard of no exams.

 

"The Chuunin Exams. It's basically a competitions between Konoha and other ninja villages to see who is worthy of going up from Genin to Chuunin." Temari stated with a shrug, the information she was sharing obviously old news to her.

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

"Hey! Did you guys hear?!?" A chipper voice exclaimed happily. "The Chuunin exams are coming up and they are letting Rookies enter!!" the same voice explained as he used his hand on a tree trunk as leverage so that he could rise to his feet to look at his teammates' expressions better.

 

"You're joking." A girl with buns in her hair stated as she twirled two kunai knives in her left hand, brown eyes giving the barer of the news a skeptical look. "I bet it has to do with the rivalry between all the jounin level instructors." The girl concluded with a nod.

 

"I doubt that." The first voice argued calmly. "After all... I hear that Hatake Kakashi's cell is to be in it." He said with a nod as he scratched his head, never once putting his shiny black bowl cut hair into disarray.

 

"The Copy-Cat Kakashi's team? How interesting..." A third voice stated, its owner looking at the tree across from his cross-legged meditation position.

 

"Well." The girl began again as she walked a few meters away from her team members. "Either way, it's all the same to me." She admitted over her shoulder before she spun around, launching the knives so fast that they weren't even seen. They struck the dummy on the tree that the second boy was seated under, he hadn't even blinked.

 

- - - - - - - - - - -

 

Next Day

 

Team 7 was on a quiet bridge waiting, and they had been waiting for the past four hours or so and their sensei still wasn't there. Kakashi was later than normal, he normally never made his Genin wait more then three hours. "Sheeesh!" The pink haired girl sighed dramatically, visibly wilting in the heat of the day.

 

"Sasuke! Its so hot!" She whined as she turned her sweaty self to look over at the two male genin who were both leaning on the bridge's railing beside each other, deep in a silent conversation, not hearing a word from Sakura's mouth. 'Sasuke... Is talking to... Naruto?' She thought in horror wondering if the blond had somehow managed to brainwash her beloved Uchiha.

 

"Yo! Good morning!!" Kakashi greeted happily from his crouched position in a tree right by the bridge before he jumped up and landed right by his students. "Sorry I'm late but I wandered a little far on the road of life and ran into a detour!" He explained cheerfully and he ran a hand over the back of his neck.

 

"Liar!! Why can't you at least act sorry for once!" Sakura huffed in annoyance, obviously in a bad mood.

 

"This may come as a shocker to you, but I signed you all up for the Chuunin Exams." Kakashi explained, dropping a metaphorical bomb on his student's head.

 

"Say what?!?!" Sakura screeched.

 

"Those start today..." Naruto stated with a sigh as he shock his head.

 

"Dobe... how do you know that?" Sasuke asked with a frown.

 

"It is the talk of all the higher ranking ninja." Naruto explained with a shrug. "Kakai-sensei? Why did you wait till last second to let us know, had you given us time we would have prepared better." He sighed. "Oh well! I'm still gonna win and become Hokage!!" He finished loudly, as he glomped Kakashi with a happy smile, his mask saved.

 

"Err..." Kakashi said as he patted the blond's head and handed him his form before tossing the other two towards his other Genin. "Now," He began as Naruto released him, "if You wish to participate I suggest you go to room 301 at the Academy for 4pm. It starts today! Ja!" He said before he poofed out of existence, leaving the three to blink after the man.

 

"Would you look at the time!" Sakura screeched. "We only have twenty minutes to get there and get into that room!" She added in horror as she and her teammates started their spring to get there.

 

'Kit... After these exams I will have something very important to tell you.' Kyuubi stated with a somber expression while his host merely nodded, not pressing for any information. Within five minutes the trio made it to the ninja school, shocked at the crowd size.

 

They easily pushed through the crowds, what with Sakura shouting harsh words and wailing like a banshee. They made it up to the second floor where a large crowd stood around a fallen boy and two young Genin. 'Wait a minute... Those two look familiar...' Naruto thought as he looked at the two who were blocking the door and telling the foolish people to leave as they didn't have the hope of surviving the exam. 'Hagane Kotetsu.' Naruto thought as he regarded the genjutsu form of the Chuunin who always wore that bandage that came up over his nose. 'And Kamizuki Izumo.' He noted as he looked at the other whose hair covered his eye.

 

'Their genjutsu is really good... If it wasn't for the fact that they are easily recognizable once you first meet them, I doubt we would have seen through the illusion.' Kyuubi commented as he recalled the one mission that Naruto had run into the seemingly inseparable due while the blond was in the for of the Shadow Assailant.

 

'Yeah...' Naruto agreed. 'And since they are illusions this room must have an illusion on it two... after all... our destination lies on the third floor, yet that sign reads the room we are looking for.' Naruto noted with amusement, glad that he had been able to see through it. 'I think this exam will be interesting... no more holding back Kyuu. I'm breaking free.' Naruto concluded as he turned his attention to the crowd of Genin.

 

"Why are people as weak and talent less as you here to take the exam?" Kotetsu asked in a sneer, pulling off the act perfectly.

 

"We are begging you to let us in." A girl with her hair in buns begged as she stepped in front of her downed and bruised teammate, only to be backhanded, causing whispers of harshness to resound through the hall.

 

"You misunderstand us. We are simply trying to save you from a painful death." The Chuunin who had struck the girl stated, voice holding not a hint of remorse. "These exams are incredibly difficult, we have failed three times already." He paused for effect before continuing. " Some people that made it, gave up the life of the ninja, others ended up crippled, heck some have even been reduced to vegetables. We've seen it all.

 

"Besides that, Chuunin are cell commanders that are responsible for their units. If they fail the mission or loose a ninja it is their fault, their responsibility. Yet you little punks have the nerve to apply for such a thing." Kotetsu said with a snort. "We're saving a step by weeding out the weakest links." He finished.

 

"That sounds good in theory." Sasuke began as he stepped forward, drawing all attention to himself. "But you'd best let me through. Also you better drop the illusion, we have business on the third floor while this is only the second." Sasuke explained calmly while Naruto merely winked and smiled at the teen who had just come up beside him.

 

"Hey Neji." Naruto greeted in a quiet voice, receiving a nod in return as the Hyuuga glared daggers at the Uchiha.

 

"I don't like him." The white eyed boy admitted with a glare at the last of the once prosperous clan.

 

"Join the club, he's a real ass most the time. Cocky too." Naruto said with a smirk, causing his friend to crack a tiny smile.

 

"So you've figured it out." Izumo said with a dark smile.

 

"Of course. It was easy to see. Sakura you saw it, you were likely the first to notice it." Sasuke added, bluffing this time to make it seem like the other two were weak in illusions. Sakura on the other hand blinked in confusion before nodding and snapping to the roll.

 

"Of course I noticed it, after all we are only on the second floor." Sakura said in agreement, her nervousness turned into stubbornness.

 

"Not bad." Kotetsu admitted with a smirk. "But just seeing through it isn't enough!" He exclaimed as he charged forward, causing Sasuke to rise to the defense.

 

It happened so fast, two blurs, one black, one green, raced from the crowd, each easily intercepting the blows from the two. A boy with bushy brows, a bowl cut and a tacky jumpsuit held the foot of the Chunnin, while a certain blond haired fox vessel held Sasuke's fist at bay. Both Sasuke and Kotetsu blinked, astonished that they had been interrupted with such speed and ease, while Naruto and Lee merely looked at each other as the two pulled their limbs away.

 

"I thought we planned not too do anything to draw attention." Hyuuga Neji stated with a sigh of exasperation as he regarded his teammate and his friend, though his words were directed at the former.

 

"I couldn't resist!" Lee said happily as he held his hand out to Naruto. "My name is Rock Lee!" He exclaimed proudly. Naruto blinked before he accepted the hand with a small smile.

 

"Uzumaki Naruto." He stated with a wink before he said. "We meet again." He said, as he recalled their first encounter.

 

"Yes, and my eternal rival speaks highly of you." He admitted with a fiery look in his eyes and he and the blond withdrew their hands. "I wish to challenge you!" Lee exclaimed causing his teammates to sigh.

 

"We will fight... but not now. We do have an exam to attend to after all." Naruto said with a wave as he walked passed the two Chunnin, heading towards the stairwell.

 

Everyone blinked at the blond's attitude, save for Neji who knew the blond, and Sasuke who was frowning at his teammate's strange new behavior. "You're Sakura aren't you?" Lee asked as he approached the pink haired girl.

 

"Yes." She answered, sounding somewhat uncertain.

 

"Will you be... my girlfriend?" Lee asked, his cheeks turning pink as he smiled his shiny smile and gave a thumbs up.

 

"No way!" Sakura said with a huff as she crossed her arms over her chest and raced after Naruto, dragging Sasuke along with her.

 

Meanwhile the two Chuunin slipped away unnoticed. "Heh...That blond is one of Kakashi's brats." one of them said as they dispelled the genjutsu on themselves, returning to their older form.

 

"It looks like we can amuse ourselves with this year's crop." Kotetsu muttered with a sinister smile that was mirrored on his partner's face.

 

"Neji? Lee?" Tenten spoke up as she watched her teammates follow after team 7. "Where are you guys going?" She inquired with a frown.

 

"You go on ahead." Lee stated as he looked over his shoulder.

 

"There is something we need to see." Neji finished as the two vanished up the stairs.

 

"Boys..." Tenten sighed.

 

- - - - - - - - -

 

Naruto walked with his hands in his pocket through the third floor gym, his teammates hurriedly catching up to him. "Dobe.. how did you do that?" Sasuke demanded as he reached out and grabbed the blond's arm.

 

"Do what?" Naruto asked as he halted in his tracks and turned so that he was facing Sasuke while pointed giving him a look that said he could be released any time now.

 

"Don't be an idiot, idiot!" Sasuke said heatedly as he narrowed his eyes. "How did you intercept my punch?" He asked, his grip tightening on the blond.

 

"That was the sissiest punch I have ever seen." Naruto said with a smirk as he pried his arm loose. "A child could have stopped you... and one did. But that other guy's kick... that could have been ugly." He stated with a nod, more so speaking to himself then his teammates. "It's a good thing that Lee and I intercepted, otherwise your fangirls might have had to find someone new to worship." He teased as he spat his tongue out at his teammate before he turned around, arms crossed behind his neck and he resumed his walk.

 

"Naruto-kun!" A voice from one of the upper balconies shouted causing the three of them to look up.

 

"Neji-kun! Lee-san! Welcome to the party!" Naruto greeted with a smile as the two leapt down from up there, landing smoothly on the ground.

 

"Naruto-kun." Neji began as he walked up to the blond and held out a small yet beautifully wrapped package. Naruto blinked before pulling his arms down and reaching out for it with his right hand.

 

"What is this?" Naruto asked as he looked at the tiny thing.

 

"A gift." Neji answered straight to the point. "To thank you for all you have done for me." Neji said as he offered a small but honest and sincere smile.

 

"You didn't have to." Naruto said with sad eyes, having never before received a present from anyone other than Iruka.

 

"I did." Neji said firmly and he nodded towards it in a way to say 'open it.' Naruto slowly opened it with trembling fingers. He carefully unwrapped, not wanting to tear the pretty packaging, only to gasp at what lie inside.

 

"Its beautiful." He said as he withdrew a white gold chain that bore a pendant in the form of a white gold and onyx rose. "It looks so expensive, I can't accept it." Naruto said as he tenderly held the pendant back out for Neji to take back.

 

"No." Neji said as he stepped forward and retrieved the pendant before he moved behind him and hurriedly fashioned it. "It is yours to keep. I had it made specifically for you, as a way to thank you, I will not take it back." He said with a tone of finality as he returned to standing before the blond, ignoring the incredulous looks from Lee and Sakura, and the glowering glare from Sasuke.

 

"Uchiha Sasuke!" Lee shouted, causing Naruto and Neji to visibly wince at the volume. "Fight me! Right here right now!" He challenged as he locked eyes with Sasuke.

 

Before Sasuke could respond a fist slammed down on the Taijutsu using ninja's head with a great thump. "Oww!! Neji-kun!! What was that for?!?!" Lee asked as tears flowed freely from his large eyes.

 

"There is no time for a quarrel, we don't want to be late for the exams now do we?" Neji asked Lee, who then adopted a look of horror before he dramatically shook his head.

 

"Ah! My eternal rival! You have saved me from failing the exam! Come we must leave at once!" He exclaimed cheerfully before he grabbed Neji's arm and hurriedly dragged the Hyuuga prodigy from the room, leaving Team 7 alone.

 

"That was freaky..." Sakura whispered to herself as the three of them resumed their path towards room 301.

 

"Glad you guys made." A voice spoke up just as the three made it in front of the door causing them to turn around.

 

"Kakai-sensei?" Naruto asked wondering what the silver haired jounin was doing there.

 

"I just came to wish the three of you good luck, so Ja!" He said before he vanished in a cloud of grey smoke.

 

"Okay..." Naruto said with a small smile before he looked back at the door. "Let go." He stated as he flung the door open.

 

 

- - - - - - - - - - -

 

End of Chapter

 

Thank you for reading and please Review! Till next time, ja!!

 

Tengoku Ha: Kami Ikari

Means: Heavenly Blade: God Wrath

 

Katon Mihon: Hono'o Kabe

Means: Fire Type: Flame Wall

 

Chikyu Mihon: Gimu-teki na Jigoku Tsurukusa

Means: Earth Type: Binding Hell Vines

 

Kinjiru Geijutsu: Karada ha Bakuhatsu

Means: Forbidden Art: Body Blade Explosion

 

Tenshin Uingu: Tengoku-teki Mihon

Means: Angel Wings: Celestial Type

 

Kori Mihon: Ame ga furu Okugi

Means: Ice Type: Raining Spikes

 

Tsuchi Mihon: Jimen Kureta

Means: Earth Type: Ground Crater

 

Mizu, Tsuchi, Kaze Sutairu: Hariken Sanbusaku

Means: Water, Earth, Wind Style: Hurricane Trilogy