Teamwork

Naruto let out a long sigh as he sat on one of the three pillars in training field seven. They'd been here for three hours waiting for Kakashi. This was getting a little ridiculous, Naruto had even gone to Sasuke's grave early so he would be on time, it was supposed to be really important and Kakashi was late… again. Naruto put his elbows on his knees and his chin on top of his interlaced fingers. His gaze fell Haru where he laid on the ground a few paces away. He had his fingers interlaced behind his head and his legs crossed at the ankles. They'd come a long way in the month they'd been together, Naruto and Sakura had been trying to integrate Haru into the team.

Flashback

Naruto and the rest of team seven walked next to the large caravan they had been charged to protect. Naruto and Haru on one side, Sakura and Kakahsi on the other. They were in charge of escorting it to the capital from the land of Tea. The Caravans had been being attacked by Bandits lately and they were in need of escorts. Naruto walked with his hand in his pockets staring at the ground.

He'd come a long way since watching Sasuke die. He was able to interact with his team, he even smiled from time to time now. But he still visited Sasuke everyday, he didn't think a day would go by for the rest of life that he wouldn't. He just couldn't let his teammate go. Sasuke had always been there, even in their academy days Naruto was always striving to surpass Sasuke, then when they were put on the same team, Naruto was both angry and relieved. Angry because it would give Sasuke even more chances to show him up, but he was relieved as well because he had a strongest person in their age to measure himself against. Now he had no one, he'd been using Kakashi but it was hard to see your own growth when going up against a Jounin as a Genin, the gap was just too large.

Naruto was brought out of his brooding when he caught a glimmer to his left. In an instant a kunai was in his hand, he deflected the knives that were thrown at him. Sounds of metal striking metal on the other side of the Caravan told him that Kakashi had ran into a similar problem. Naruto watched as three bandits stepped out of the shadows of the trees katana in hand. Naruto glanced at Haru and saw he also hand a kunai in his hand, his hand was trembling.

"Haru," he said causing the boy to look at him "we can do this together, just stay with me and watch each other's back, got it?" Haru gave him a quick nod and looked back at the enemy. Naruto switched his one-eyed gaze back at their attackers. In a flash he threw the kunai at the men. It found a home in one of their shoulder's. Then Naruto ran at him in a low stance Haru hot on his heels. Naruto hit a baseball slide and slid through the man's legs before leaping to his feet and racing at the man behind him. He heard a gurgle and knew Haru had done his job. Naruto pulled the two kunai of his hip s and ran straight at the second man. He blocked the katana strike with the kunai in his right hand and turning his back on the man he plunged the kunai in his left hand into the man's left side, the mans eyes bulged as Naruto turned to face him yanking the kunai out and dragging the kunai that hand blocked the katana across both the man's jugular veins. He fell to the ground, bubbles of blood bursting from the slash in his throat as he struggled for breath. It would end soon, if he didn't bleed out from the wound across his neck, he would die drowning on his own blood as it slowly filled his punctured lung.

Naruto turned to look at the last man and saw Haru had already engaged him. He was holding his own but Haru's strength was not close combat. Naruto ran at them throwing a kunai, which the man only avoided because he leapt out of the way of Haru's attack, otherwise it would have sank into the side of his head. Naruto continued to run at the man as he turned his back on his, it was clear he was completely unaware of Naruto's presence. Naruto closed the gap swiftly and buried the blade into the man's back, severing his spine. Haru took advantage of the man's surprise and plunged his own kunai in their opponents heart.

Naruto pushed the man to the ground pulling his blade free. He turned to Haru and gave him a small nod of approval and turn back to the caravan only stopping to wipe his blade clean on one of the enemy's shirts.

End Flashback

That had been one of their first missions together and their team's team work had been getting better and better with every mission. After their last mission yesterday, which had been a simple delivery run to a neighboring village that had taken a grand total of six hour, Kakashi told them to meet at training field seven. And now he was late. Naruto let out another sigh causing Sakura to look up at him from where she was sitting right below him reading a scroll on genjustu that she had gotten from Kurenai.

"What's wrong Naruto?" she asked a curious look on her face "You've been sighing an awful lot."

"It's Kakashi-sensei," said Naruto " I just wish he could be on time for once." Sakura nodded her head in agreement.

"Why do you think he's late all the time anyway?" asked Haru from his spot in the middle of the field.

"Who knows," said Naruto. "He's done it since we've known him, and he's not showing any signs of stopping, guess we'll just have to deal with it." As if on cue Kakashi casually walked into the field waving in greeting.

"You're late," they all chorused, not loudly, Naruto merely mumbling. Kakashi let out a small laugh nervously rubbing the back of his head. After regaining his composer, Kakashi addressed them as a team.

"I've actually called you all to discuss an important matter, the Chunnin exams are approaching and I've nominated the three of you." Three Genin stared at him for a minute.

"Wait what kind of exam?" asked Haru knowing if he had to fight, he would be hard pressed to win.

"I'm not allowed to disclose the details," said Kakashi then he took out three sheets of paper and handed them to his students. "These are the applications file them out and meet at the academy tomorrow if you wish to participate." With that he left the three young ninja. Naruto stared at the paper for a minute before jumping to the ground. He was entering, it would be a good opportunity for him to test his skills.

He walked out of the clearing heading for the main square of the village his teammate flanking him. As they walked the stumbled across a male/female pair of ninja they didn't recognize. The male was in a black jump suit wearing a ridiculous cat-eared hood, make up and had something wrapped in bandages on his back. The female wore a simple dress with a large battle fan strapped to her back. The male had a child by the collar holding the boy off the ground, Naruto recognized the boy, Konohamaru. The look on the mystery ninja's face did spell good news for Konohamaru. Naruto decide it would be best to intervene.

"Put him down," he said not drawing his hands out of his pockets.

"What?" said the Ninja "You got a problem too punk?"

"I do," said Naruto "I have a problem with you harassing the people of my village," he glanced at the boy's forehead "Sand ninja. You are clearly here to take part in the up and coming Chunnin Exams, it would be a shame if I had to have to expelled from the village for disturbing the peace."

"Kankuro," said dark voice from somewhere to Naruto's right "Put him down you're embarrassing yourself and our village." A young man stood in the underside of a tree branch his arms crossed and a large gourd on his back. The boy in black seemed to get scared suddenly and dropped Konohamaru.

"Uh sure Gaara," he stuttered. The boy Gaara turned to Naruto.

" I apologize for his behavior," he said in a monotone voice. Naruto shook his head.

"It's alright no harm was done," having said that Naruto, Sakura, Haru and Konohamaru all left the Sand ninja to themselves.

As they walked Naruto thought about the boy named Gaara, there was something about him, something strangely familiar. Deciding that he was reading too much into it, Naruto decided to just banish the thought. He had an exam to focus on and he couldn't afford distractions right now.

000000

Naruto stood outside the academy his hands in his pockets. He had arrived thirty minutes early to insure he wouldn't miss his chance. After waiting about ten minutes the rest of his team showed up. They handed the applications to the two Chunin sitting at a booth outside.

"Head upstairs, third floor, room 305," one of them said. Naruto nodded and then with his team flanking him on either side, he entered the Academy. He walked up the stairs and to the third floor where he found and entered room 305. The room was packed, and in the front stood the rest of the rookie nine. Naruto walked over and stood next to them his hands still deep in his pockets.

"Hey Naruto," said Choji as he approached. Naruto inclined his head in greeting and stared out amongst the rest of the ninja. There were genin from all over the land, Grass, Sand, Rain, There were even three ninja with music notes on their headbands. Naruto locked eyes with one of them, a man who had most of his face covered in bandages. They stared at each other for a minute. Sakura glance nervously at Naruto and then looked at Haru who was watching Naruto. Then surprisingly the man with the music note on his forehead broke the eye contact. A ghost of a smile crossed Naruto's face as he glanced at the rest of the rookies. Some of them were looking at him with stunned looks. Naruto gave them questioning looks before turning to look at the examiner that just entered the room.

"All right you scum," said Ibiki, "every one take a number from the box the examiner is passing around then take your assigned seating." Naruto drew number 19D. He walked up to row nineteen and sat in the four seat, to his left was a grass ninja and to his right was Hinata. They passed out the tests.

"You have one hour," said the Examiner "No cheating, if you are caught three time you're entire team will fail. Begin!" Naruto flipped over his paper and saw a nine question test. "The tenth question will be given with ten minutes left." Naruto stared at it for a minute.

"Great, all the skills I've picked up and I still suck at taking tests," he thought. He sat in his chair trying to think of a way to figure this out, there was no way he could answer any of the questions they where just way over his head. He was gonna have to cheat, but how?

Flashback

Kakashi and Zabuza stood on the water, eyeing each other. Both men stared flashing through hands signs Kakashi copying Zabuza flawlessly. They both used the water style jutsu throwing Naruto around. Then Zabuza stared making random movements, Kakashi moved flawlessly with him. Mimicking every movement the Demon of the Mist made.

End Flashback

Ten months ago Naruto would have slapped himself in the forehead. Now he was more reserved. He started subtlety scanning the room for potential candidates, through a sheer stoke of luck the man right in front of him was writing like a man possessed. Pretending to scratch the right side of his face, Naruto slightly pulled down the bandage over his right eye, he had been training for the last six months with Kakashi in using Sharingan, it was time to put that training to at least some use. For the first time since the death of Sasuke, the right eye of Naruto Uzumaki, opened.

Sakura scanned the test, and glanced at Naruto who was staring blankly at his test. This was bad, though his battle prowess and jutsu skills had increase by leaps and bounds since Sasuke's death. But his intellectual and deductive reasoning skills hadn't improved at all. She wasn't going to have a problem and Haru should be ok. Though he wasn't a very good fighter Haru was actually quite smart. Sakura watched Naruto be still for a long time before finally moving. He scratched the bandaged side of his face, then stared writing. Her fear's laid to rest for the time being, Sakura turned to her own test.

"I hit a gold mine with this guy," thought Naruto as he copied the answer for the fifth question. In a matter of twenty minutes Naruto had the entire test filled out and finished. They had five minutes until the tenth question was released, Naruto pulled the bandage back over the Sharingan to conserve his chakra and sat back in his seat with his arms crossed. People around him were starting to finish. As he glanced around he realized that there was a significant fewer number of people. He'd been so focused on copying the man's movements he hadn't noticed people being removed.

"Alright listen up," said the proctor. "It's time for the tenth question." Naruto looked up at the proctor trying to read him. He hadn't been able to for the entire exam, it was starting to wear on his nerves.

"But before we reveal the tenth question there are a few rules. Rule number one, each of you will have the choice whether or not to take the final question." There was a collective gasp from the students. "However should you choose not to take it you will get a zero on the test and automatically fail, and in extension, your entire team will. Rule Two: If you do decide to take the final question and do not answer correctly, you will be barred from taking the Chunnin Exams ever again!" Gasp wasn't the correct word this time. It was more like a scream of terror. Naruto watched as Student after student raised their hands, backing out. Naruto glanced at Haru, who was shaking, nervous as hell. Naruto closed his eye.

"Go ahead, Haru," he thought. "Raise your hand," Haru's hand twitched but he kept his arm down. "Alright then, here we go." The proctor glanced over the class one more time.

"Alright then, if that's everyone I only have one thing left to say," He paused as he glanced around. Naruto's right hand twitched, ready to pull the bandage from his eye. "Congratulations, on passing the first exam!" Naruto almost fell out of his chair, the guy next to him actually did.

"Hold on!" yelled Sakura jumping to her feet "What do you mean? Where's the tenth question!"

"There is no tenth question, not a written one at least," He smiled. "In fact your answer to stay was the correct answer." Naruto crossed his arms and slumped in his seat.

"Unbelievable" he said smirking and shaking his head.

"Then what was the point of the other nine questions?" demanded a blonde haired-girl wearing a sand head band around her neck. "Where they completely pointless?"

"Not all," said Ibiki "in truth they served a very important task, they were to test your ability to gather intel under the most dire of circumstances." Naruto could only shake his head. "As I'm sure you realized the questions were far too advanced for any Genin to answer. The test was designed to encourage cheating, in fact, it practically demanded it. However you had to have some one to copy off of. So I had two Chunnin who already knew the answers sit in with you." Naruto watched as the boy he'd been copying raised his hand.

"Ok, but what was the point of the tenth question?" asked the blonde girl "The tenth question was the whole point of the exam. You had two choices neither one very pleasant; you could either choose not to take it and whole team would fail, or you could take it a run the risk of losing your chance to ever be Chunnin. It was a no win situation. But with your choices to take it you have shown your ability to put the mission before yourself. The first exam is over."

"See through deception," said Naruto shaking his head. Then the widow to his left shattered a sort of ball flew in through the window. Two kunai with ropes tied to them imbedded them selves in the ceiling. A woman with purple hair and a tan coat stood in front of the newly erected curtain.

"Alright, Boys and girls you ready for the second test?" she yelled "Good! Then follow me!" No one moved.

"O…K…?" stuttered Naruto with a raised eyebrow."

"You're early," came Ibiki's voice from behind the curtain "again." she faltered. Then Ibiki stepped around the curtain and the two shared word in whispers that Naruto didn't catch.

"Alright meet me tomorrow at the 44th battle training zone at eight o'clock tomorrow morning," the woman said "DISMISSED!"

Naruto stood up from his seat and exited the room, his hands tucked in his pockets. He walked down to the ground floor and exited the building, headed for home. His teammates soon joined him.

"Hey Naruto," said Haru walking up on his right, "How many questions did you answer? I could only get five." Naruto smiled.

"I got them all," said Naruto. Sakura gave him a weird look before a look of understanding crossed her face. Gave her a faint smile before looking forward again and continuing on his journey home.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow," said Haru and leapt off.

"Would you like me to walk you home?" asked Naruto looking back at Sakura. Sakura shook her head.

"Actually I though I'd visit with you for awhile," she said "My parents are out of the village on business and wont be returning for a week." Naruto nodded his head and turned toward his house. They reached his house in short time and soon found themselves sitting on his couch. Though he'd intended to stay up and talk with Sakura for awhile, Naruto found himself growing very drowsy very quickly. In a matter of minute his head was cradled in Sakura's lap and he was fast asleep.

The next morning Naruto woke on his couch, a petite form curled against him. He lifted himself up a bit and looked around, his clock read six o'clock. They had an hour and a half to get the 44th battle training ground. He gently shook Sakura awake and watched as her beautiful green eyes fluttered open.

"Sakura, we gotta get up," he said. She stretched her whole body against him. He felt his face heat up slightly. After she got off the couch, Naruto sat up and put his face in his hands rubbing it vigorously trying to wake up. Then he stood up and followed her out of the house. They ran to the training ground and made it with a half hour to spare. Haru was already there waiting for them.

"About time you two decide to show up," he said giving them a smirk.

"Yeah, sorry about that," said Sakura rubbing the back of her head. "Kinda overslept." Haru gave them a knowing look before turning to face the forest.

"So this is where we're taking the next exam eh?" he said looking up at the looming trees. "Should be pretty interesting." Naruto followed his gaze into the trees, they looked ominous and he couldn't help but agree, it did look like it was going to be interesting.

Movement to his right caught his attention and he turned to see Shikamaru and his team approaching them, followed by the other three Rookies. Soon the Rookie Nine were standing together in a small mob and at there head stood Naruto. They were outcasts here, having only been Genin for a short time even most the of the Leaf Genin looked on them with partial disgust. The only ones who weren't were three in the far back. Two boys and a girl. Team Gai, lead by the child prodigy Neji Huuga. Naruto turned to face his own team and the rest of the nine, forming a small circle.

"So looks like we're all still in it," said Kiba glancing around.

"Yup!" said Choji smiling.

"What do you suppose the next task will be?" asked Hinata's shy voice. None of the other's got a chance to answer because at that very moment the second exam proctor showed up.

"Alright you maggots!" she yelled "Its time for the second exam to begin. Each team will receive either a heaven scroll or an earth scroll. The objective is to enter the training ground, and make your way to the tower located in the middle. However before you can enter the tower you must first obtain both scrolls. You have five days." Naruto's eyebrow raised a bit. "Before we can proceed each team must enter the both, confirm you are aloud to partake in the exam and receive your scroll. Naruto turned to his team and indicated for them to follow. Then as a team they walked into the both.

"Names," said the Chunnin sitting behind the table.

"Sakura Haruno," said Sakura the Chunnin scanned the list and found her name, he checked her off.

"Haru Muri," said Haru the Chunnin checked his name off.

"Naruto Uzumaki," said Naruto, the Chunnin did a double take eyeing Naruto up, then he checked his name off. Naruto picked up the heaven scroll that was set in front of him and drew his a number out of the box, they drew gate thirteen. They exited the booth and walked away from the rest of the candidates.

Once at their gate, the three started to discuss strategy.

"Naruto," said Sakura "Who should lead the team?" Naruto was quite for a bit.

"You should Sakura, you are the smartest one out of the group," said Naruto "Haru, no offence but you've got a bit of a confidence problem and me well, I already let one teammate die, I won't let you die because of me.

Sakura frowned she and Haru both believed Naruto was the best for this, but it seemed that he didn't trust himself with the well being of his teammates. Yes she was smart, but she wasn't a leader, she didn't have the natural ability, it wasn't in her make-up. Naruto however, was. He knew how to inspire people, it came as natural as breathing to him, but it seemed that he had yet to overcome his fear of being "responsible" for another teammates death.

So she reluctantly agreed to lead them. But she knew that if any fighting started Naruto would take over, he wouldn't even realize it but he would; and she'd follow his every order. Naruto nodded at her and turned around to face the gate. She stared at his back, his hand tucked in his pockets, but he still stood as straight up as ever, the pride he had in himself hadn't changed. for a second she remembered Sasuke and the way he carried himself. They had been more alike than they knew but Sakura had always been looking at them from the outside so it was easy for her to see, she was sure Kakashi saw it too.

"Alright get ready" said the Chunnin at the gate. Naruto stepped up to the gate, Sakura and Haru stepped up to flank him.

"Five, four, three, two, one," the Chunnin counted down "GO!" The gate swung open and the three raced in. Naruto took the lead and leapt into the trees, the others hot on his heels. The raced through the trees for an hour before coming to a stop in a small clearing.

"Alright, how are we gonna go about finding a earth scroll?" asked Haru.

"We can't split up, but we'll lose time if we just wonder around aimlessly," said Sakura "So for now we continue to head for the tower." Naruto and Haru nodded and leapt off to follow their leader, How ever they hadn't gone three hundred yards when Naruto put on a burst of speed and tackled Sakura out of the sky, a kunai flew over head and. Haru caught a branch and flipped up on top of it, drawing his own kunai. Naruto landed with Sakura in his arms, holding her bridal style.

"Thanks Naruto," she said as he put her down. He nodded and looked of into the direction the kunai had come from. Three ninja from the grass village stood in a tree sixty feet away squaring off against Haru. Haru leapt into the air and threw his blade the three scattered. Naruto and Sakura used the distraction to leap back into the fight. Naruto Slipped of his pack and flipped it open. He pulled out a crescent bladed like object and threw it to Haru, who caught it and landed on a nearby branch blocking a shurriken with the blade. Then he spun the blade once, three identical blades sprang forth. Haru was holding the weapon of Sasuke Uchiha, the Demon Wind Shurriken.

The attacking ninja all threw multiple shurriken and kunai at Haru who started spinning the Shurriken, the incoming blades where deflected. Then Haru threw the spin blade at the three ninja. They all leapt out the way, Haru leapt in pursuit of one. Sakura stopped the ninja pursuing Haru with a had kick to the head. Naruto jumped after the third.

Haru landed in front of the ninja he'd pursued another kunai in his hand, the grass ninja drew his sword and attacked Haru. Haru side stepped the attack plunged the kunai through his hand, pinning him to the tree, then Haru stuck his hand out and caught the Demon Wind on it return path, continuing it rotation he passed the blades through his neck severing his head from his shoulders.

Sakura landed in a crouch and launched herself at the grass ninja, she punched him in the face and followed up with a knee to his stomach. Then she drew a kunai and he drew his sword. She attacked him with a stab which he dodged and the trapped her arm between his body and his arm. He tried to cut off her head but she dropped down and grabbed his leg. She pulled it out from under him. He lost his balance, and fell from the tree. Sakura dove after him her blade held in a reverse grip. They both crashed to the ground, her blade pierced his chest and heart.

Naruto and his opponent face each other, neither moving, neither breathing. The grass ninja twitched, Naruto started his hand signs.

"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" he breathed the huge flame at the grass ninja who dropped of the tree branch and fell to the ground. Naruto dropped down after him drawing his two kunai off his hips holding them in reverse grips. They landed on the ground and the Grass ninja ran at Naruto, he delivered an over head slash intent on cleaving Naruto in two. Naruto blocked the blade with his kunai. Then he shoved the Ninja away and took up the ground he delivered stabs through each of the man's biceps then plunged the blades into his thighs. The man screamed in pain. Naruto ripped one blade out and drove for the man's chin. The enemy ninja caught Naruto's wrist and tried to hold off his attack. Naruto put the palm of his other hand on the end of the kunai and pushed up. The two struggled against one another but the man's wounded arms quickly gave out. Naruto drove the kunai through the man's bottom jaw and into the roof of his mouth and then the blade pierced his brain. The man suffered the most unbearable pain known to possible, then he died.

Naruto wrenched the blade free and kicked the corpse over. He turned to look at his other teammates, they were both fine. Haru had the Demon Wind in his hand and was in the process of wiping it clean. The other two enemies were dead. Haru collapsed the Demon Wind and tried to hand it back to Naruto. Naruto shook his head.

"Keep it," he said "You seem to have a natural talent for it, I can't think of a better person to carry Sasuke's Shurriken." Haru and Sakura shared a look of amazement, Naruto was parting with something of Sasuke's. Not many people knew it, but Naruto had the head band he'd gotten from Iruka in a drawer at home. Since his death Naruto had been wearing Sasuke's headband, as a tribute to his dead friend. Now he was giving Haru the Demon Wind, the weapon Sasuke had used to fight the rogue ninja: Zabuza.

"Come on," he said let's search them for the scroll. The searched the bodies for a couple minute before Haru found it on the man he'd killed.

"It's a Heaven Scroll," he said. He tossed it into the bushes. Naruto and Sakura converged on him.

"It's getting late," said Sakura "Let's find somewhere to campo for the night." The other two nodded and they began to search. After looking for half an hour the found a deep cave the had a natural bend in it, which meant they could make a fire. Heartened a bit, they head inside and started to erect a camp. Sakura set up the tent, while Haru and Naruto collected firewood. In no time at all they had a small fire going, and where eating some rations that Haru had had. Naruto volunteered for the first watch and while the other slept he sat at the mouth of the cave.

His thoughts, as they always did, drifted to the time he'd spent with Sasuke. The tree climbing, their fight with Zabuza, the Demon Brothers, everything. It had been annoying to see Sasuke out class him at every turn, but at the same time it had inspired him to try even harder. The bond of friendship and brotherhood that had been forming between them was like something he'd never felt before. But then his thoughts drifted to Haru, they were growing closer, he'd meant what he'd said about the Demon Wind. He'd wanted Haru to keep it. Haru would never replace Sasuke. Haru knew this, Naruto knew it, Sakura knew it. But Haru had earned his own spot on Team Seven, they where now a four man squad. The spirit of Sasuke as the Guardian Angel, always looking over them and guiding showing Naruto the path to the title of Hokage, just like he'd said.

It was that line of thinking that cause Naruto to remember his other startling discovery.

Flashback

"Come on Naruto," said Kakashi "just relax and watch my hands." Narutotook in a deep breath and opened his right eye watching Kakashi.

"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" Kakashi let the huge ball of fire fly into the air. "Now follow me this time," he said. Naruto cleared his mind and let his instincts take over just like Kakashi had instructed.

"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!" they said as one. Naruto's was as big as Kakashi's causing the Jounin to gasp.

"Amazing," he said.

"What," asked Naruto.

"It would seem that not only did Sasuke give you Sharingan, but the Uchiha's unparalleled control of Fire Jutsu as well. The Nine-tails seems to have adapted your body to use Sasuke's DNA." Naruto let out a gasp.

"What does that mean?" he asked suddenly slightly afraid.

"Don't worry you're still you," said Kakashi "you just have a little bit of Uchiha blood in you know."

End Flashback

Since then Naruto had been improving on his Fire Jutsu, and he was getting quite good at it. He was working on a few others that he had yet to perfect. All in all his skill in Ninjutsu was improving, and that to very good Taijutsu and you had yourself a pretty good ninja, he wanted to learn Genjutsu and Kakashi said he would be able to learn a little as he got better with Sharingan, but he wasn't a Genjutsu type so the Genjutsu he could learn would be very limited.

A few hours later Haru relieved Naruto so he could get some sleep as well. Naruto walked deeper into the cave and entered the tent to find Sakura sleeping comfortably in her bedroll. Naruto slipped into his which was to her right and laid on his back with his hands crossed under his head. Sakura rolled over and curled up against him, resting her head on his chest. Naruto, focusing on her presence, slowly drifted off.

When he awoke again, Sakura's warm body was gone. He sat up and looked around the ten. Sakura was gone, but Haru was there, sleeping with his back to Naruto. Naruto brushed the top of his bedroll off his legs and left the tent. Once outside he stretched and made his way to the tent entrance. Sakura was sitting there on watch, she turned to look at him as he approached.

"What time is it?" he asked her.

"Almost dawn," she replied "We should probably get moving." Naruto nodded and went back into the tent where he woke up Haru and together they collapsed the tent and put it back in Sakura's pack. Naruto carried her pack out to her as he threw his own acrossed his back. Haru's pack seemed to have vanished.

"Haru where's you pack?" asked Naruto.

"Don't have it anymore," answered Haru I didn't have anything else in it, so I made it into this." He held up and sort of carrier and Naruto saw that the Demon Wind was in it, the Ring sticking out the top for quick access.

"Ah, I see," said Naruto impressed. "Well we better get moving." They leapt into the trees. Little did they know that they were being followed.

0000000

Dosu, Kin, and Zaku watched their targets leap into the air and off into the trees. Lord Orochimaru had said to target them, to test their might. He had something planned for the village and waited to see how well the Genin in the village were being trained. Kakashi's Team Seven had the most promising candidates in the year batch of rookies so they were the targets. They'd been watching them all night, trying to see if they could find a weakness to exploit, but so far they had found nothing. So they would trail them, and wait for the right moment to strike.

00000

Naruto, Sakura, and Haru had been on the move all day and were nearing the tower, they were currently taking a break by a river. Naruto knelt on it's bank, washing his face in the cool stream when he felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He searched his surroundings for danger but, couldn't find any. Thinking that maybe it was just fatigue, he decided to let it go for the time being. He returned to his teammates who were currently trying to devise a way to obtain an Earth Scroll. It was then that Naruto saw them, sitting in a in tree fifty yards behind them were they enemy ninja. Careful as to not give away that he was aware of their presence he walked to his teammates and knelt down next to them.

"We're being watched," he whispered "Don't react, but there are three enemy ninja fifty yards directly behind Haru. They other continued to act as if he had said nothing, but where they were drawing a map of the surrounding area, they both drew check marks, indicating that they understood.

The attack would have been fatal, had the three not already been aware it was coming. The lead man, a man wrapped almost completely in bandages landed where they were drawing their map. The three Leaf Ninja dove towards the river and rolled to their feet weapons in hand. Naruto had his two kunai, Haru wielded the Demon Wind, and Sakura had a kunai in her hand.

"So," said the Mummy man, "You were aware of our presence all this time?"

"What if we were?" countered Haru. The Mummy man was joined by two others, a man with spiky hair and a lean woman. All three wore head bands with Musical Notes on them.

"I'm curious," said the Mummy "What kind of scroll do you carry? You see we carry this Earth scroll." HE held up the Earth Scroll, their reactions gave them away "Ah, so you need this Earth Scroll, to go with the Heaven scroll you carry. How about a deal, we both lay our scrolls on the ground, and then we fight, who ever wins, get to take both scrolls with them." Naruto wanted to except, an Earth Scroll had fell right into their laps, but if the Man was revealing what kind of scroll he had, it could only mean that he was confident in his and his teammates' chances of winning. But they really didn't have any choice.

"I'll take your deal," said Naruto and pulled the Heaven Scroll out of his pack. He set it on the ground next to the Mummy man's scroll and leapt back to his team.

"Ok, guys," he said "any ideas?"

"Yeah, I've got one," said Sakura "but I'm going to need time, two or three minutes at least," in the world of a ninja, two minute was a lifetime, three, an eternity. Naruto nodded.

"Alright Haru and I will keep them busy," said Naruto. Haru nodded in agreement and started to spin the Demon Wind. Sakura leapt back a ways and started making hands signs. Naruto sheathed his two knives and started his hand signs.

"Too late!" yelled the spiky haired man. He held up his hands and a wall of air rushed at Naruto. Naruto finish just in time.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" he launched the mass of flames at the wall of air. They clashed and the shock wave cause everyone to shield their face, all but Sakura who was too far back. When Naruto and his opponents recovered they all noticed Haru was gone, Naruto feared the worst however his fears were quickly put to rest when he saw a loud yell. He looked up and saw Haru spin his body over using his own momentum to put even more force into the throw, just as Sasuke had while fighting Zabuza. The Demon Wind flew at the ninja with blinding speed but the Mummy man pulled up his sleeve and revealed a strange look gauntlet with holes in it. He blocked the large shurriken with it. Haru caught it as it flew back at him. He hit the ground and collapsed it, blocking the strike the Mummy had aim at him. They stood still eye each other down when Haru gasped and fell you one knee, blood running out of his left ear. Naruto was on the moving drawing his two kunai. He kicked the Mummy Man in the face sending him flying backward and then deflected two throwing needles that the girl had thrown. Haru was on his feet and running the spiky haired guy only to have a wall of air hit him in the face. Naruto turned to help him, but was cut off by the girl. The Mummy soon got to his feet and was running towards him.

"Come on Sakura," he thought. It was in that moment that the two attacking Naruto stopped all together. The spiky haired guy was still blasting Haru with a massive wall of air pinning him to the ground. Naruto dodged around the girl, who now had her hands around her own throat, and ran up behind the guy. He slide under his arms and drove both kunai into his arms, at the elbows. He screamed in pain. Haru kicked him in the face, he crashed to the ground, unconscious. Naruto turned to look at Sakura who was on her hands and knees breathing very hard.

"So, that's what she was doing," he thought "Genjutsu."

He looked back at the Mummy man and the girl, the girl was on the ground, she'd strangled herself to unconsciousness. The Mummy man was on his knees gasping for air. He must have been able to hold out long enough for Sakura's jutsu to wear off.

"You are indeed powerful, and we underestimated you," said the Mummy man "The earth scroll is yours, please let us go." Naruto picked up the two scrolls and turn towards his fallen foes.

"Be gone," he said.

"Thank you, until we meet again," he stood up a carried of both off his teammates. Naruto quickly joined Haru at Sakura's side.

"Sakura that was amazing," he said.

"I'm still trying to get the hang of it," she said "It take a lot of my Chakra and I can't hold it for long."

"It's ok," said Naruto "You held it long enough for what we needed. Look." he held out the two scrolls. "We've got both scrolls, let's rest here tonight and head for the tower in the morning." No one disagreed.

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Naruto, Sakura and Haru gazed up at the tower as they walked inside, it wasn't as large as Naruto had expected up, it was a descent size. They stepped into the room labeled thirteen and closed the door behind them. It had taken most of the day to reach the tower, so there were still three nights and two days until the test ended. They would be here for awhile. They started searching the room, when Sakura found a large poster on the wall, after reading it, she turn to her two teammates.

"I think we have to open the scrolls now," she said. The other two looked at her curiously for a second before following her orders. Haru and Naruto each took and scroll and opened it. They started to smoke so the two threw them away, drawing their weapons. When the smoke cleared, Iruka-sensei stood in front of them.

"Congratulations on passing the second exam," he said.

"Iruka-sensei?" asked Naruto.

"That's right," said his old sensei.

"Why are you here?" asked Sakura.

"Well I'm here to explain the exam," he said. "and what it mean's to be Chunnin. You see a Chunnin is a leader, the exam demanded teamwork and it was up to the leader to get their team to work together as a cohesive unit. Secondly, it pitted you against the other, the team had to decide who to approach each obstacle. One through team work could this exam be completed." After his explanation of the exam, Iruka asked them about the challenges they had face in the forest before finally wishing them good luck on the next exam.

The next two days passed slowly, but it gave them time to replenish what Chakra they had used in the forest. After the time limit was up the door in the back of the room opened. This lead into a hall way where the rest of the qualifying team were, they all followed the hall into an huge room. On an elevated platform stood each Sensei of the remaining teams, the second exam proctor, and the Third Hokage.

"Alright, each team line up in single file," said the exam Proctor. After lining up the Hokage spoke.

"First off, I'd like to congratulate each and every one of you on reaching the third exam," he said.

As he spoke Naruto glanced around, Shikamaru and his team made it, Kiba and the others too. The team from the Sand Village, and the sound team that had fought Naruto and his team. And two other Leaf teams, one was team Gai and the other had no one that Naruto recognized each person look rather strange and silver haired man with glasses was in the front.

"Now," the Hokage "It's time to…" he was interrupted by another Leaf Ninja dropping from the roof.

"Lord Hokage," he said "As Proctor for the third exam I, Hayate Gekko wish to address them."

"Very well," said the Hokage. Hayate turned to them.

"Hello every one," he said "Before we can begin the third exam we have to have a set of preliminary bouts,"

"What the hell for?" demanded Kiba.

"Frankly speaking," said the Proctor "We didn't expect this many of you to make it, she we must thin down you're numbers. Before we do how ever is there any among you who wish to end it here." The man in glasses raised his hand.

"Alright you got me, I'm out," he said.

"Kabuto Yakshi," said the second exam proctor.

"Very well," said Hayate if that is it, then the Prelims begin right now." A screen high in the wall began to randomly go through names. It ended on Haru and one of the Leaf Ninja dressed in purple. The other went up to the cat walks on either end of the room, only Haru and his opponent remained. It was time for the third exams to begin.

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And that's that. Again I apologize for this ridiculously late update, I hope the amount of story and plot I put into this chapter makes up for it a little. And for those of you who are wondering, No I will not be following the canon, the Chunnin exams are as far as it's going, as you can see I've already started to deviate.

Since it is now four AM here in San Diego, I'm going to wait until I wake up to start the next chapter but I will try to keep pumping out chapters every week or so, maybe sooner depending on how motivated I am to write… *cough cough* reviews *cough cough*