Team seven were waiting for their sensei in their usual meeting spot, Hinata was resting, leaning against a tree while Naruto stood near them, as silent as ever, Sasuke was at the top of a tree glaring at the masked ninja.
A puff of smoke caught his attention, he turned his eyes and saw Kakashi standing there with the usual smile on his face. "Yo." He greeted, rousing Hinata from her sleep.
"You are late again Hatake."
The copy nin again scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, Kurenai was sick so I had to go give her a case full of rats.
Hinata, Sasuke even Naruto sweat dropped at this. It had to be the most…it couldn't even be called an excuse. Kakashi himself was mentally kicking his own ass for saying such a stupid thing.
He laughed nervously, ridding himself of that god forsaken silence that had fallen upon them. "Well, I have good news" He said smiling, pulling out three slips of paper he handed it to the three teenagers. "These are qualification papers for the chuunin exams. Its not necessary for all of you to take it, should you decide to take it sign the slip and present it at the examination building tomorrow."
That said, the copy ninja vanished in a puff of smoke.
Naruto turned towards his two charges he knew that the full three man cell was in order to enter the exams. Which meant Kakashi was lying, making sure everyone was actually willing to enter, of their own accord. "Will the two of you be going?"
Sasuke scoffed and walked away, giving him no answer, Naruto immediately deduced that he would go. Pride and confidence were his strong points after all. He turned to Hinata.
She shrugged, "Father will all but command me to enter so yeah, I'm going."
Naruto nodded, before he turned and made his own way into the village. Silently forming two shadow clones to trail his two charges back to their respective estates.
As he walked through the village he, for once in a long time, took in the sights around him.
He found himself watching as the people of the village went about their buisness.
Store clerks managing markets, mothers bringing home their groceries, couples and friends enjoying themselves as they ate in restaurants, laughing. It was that sound, the sound of laughter, bright and bubbly that had him looking ahead, to three children, playing. They could be no older than six, one he recognized almost immediately as Sarutobi's grandson.
He watched them, almost curious. He could admit they were truly a foreign thing to him.
He didn't understand...not fully. So many smiles, so many people, living. Living in peace.
They were not like him, it seemed like sorrow, blood, death and chaos were all gone from this place.
How were these people…like this? What caused such…happiness in them?
He didn't understand them...not entirely. Perhaps it was better that way but he was finding himself curious regardless. For the first time in his relatively short life he could find no true reason for this, the simplicity of their joy. Where they unaware? He wondered. Did they not know, that every second of every day, death struck yet another soul? If so, then why didn't they know? And if they didn't know, then why didn't anyone inform them?
He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a loud, childish. "OW!" Followed by a grunt from an older male. 'Hey you little brat!"
Naruto stepped forward, leaving the sprawling market district behind. He rounded the corner and found the third's grandson, Konohamaru, being placed on the ground by a Suna shinobi wearing black garb and makeup.
"Be more careful next time will ya?" He heard the Suna shinobi grumble as he set him down.
Konohamaru scratched the back of his head and smiled up at the Suna Shinobi. "Hehe, sorry again." He said before running off with two other children.
"What's up Kankuro, getting soft in your old age?" Naruto heard a Suna Kunoichi speak as she walked up behind him.
"What the hell are you talking about? Your older than me!" He yelled but was then immediately smacked over the head with a giant iron fan that sent him into blissful, unconsciousness...or perhaps a painful concussion.
"Gurhg" He groaned out weakly from his place on the floor.
Naruto felt the tugging of amusement at the sight of the fuming Suna Kunoichi as she stood over, what he assumed was her teammate, hoisting her battle fan like a mighty hammer and repeatedly bashing the unfortunate Suna gennin over the head even as he was already unconscious.
Naruto's senses then caught another presence, but this one was…different.
Another red headed Suna nin rounded the corner and shook his head at the display. He then walked over and placed a hand on the still fuming Kunoichi's shoulder. She stopped mid swing and turned to face him.
"Maybe it would be better if you kill him after the exam? That way we wont get disqualified, Temari."
The Kunoichi, now revealed to be named Temari huffed, crossed her arms and looked away with a grunt.
Again, Naruto found himself, amused..
"Whatever Gaara, just don't expect me to help carry his sorry ass back to the hotel."
Gaara shook his head and sighed before kneeling down next to his fallen sibling and began poking him with a stick. 'Damn, I think she really did kill him.'
He was about to speak again, when a presence tickled the back of his mind, he looked down the road, about two blocks down he noticed a masked, blond, watching them intently.
The Shinobi looked straight at him, He couldn't see his eyes, not from this distance. But he knew that the ninja was looking at him because he could feel it. Like those eyes were branding his skin.
Nevertheless he returned the gaze, unflinchingly. They held their mutual stare for a moment before the masked ninja turned and left.
Gaara sighed, in a bit of relief he turned to Temari. "Sis."
The said Kunoichi turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah?" She asked curiously.
He jerked his head, telling her to look. She obliged and saw the ninja walking away. "What of him?"
"Should he cross your path during the invasion…" He paused as he stood. "Run."
"Why?" She asked, most of the Konoha gennin she had seen so far were nothing extraordinary and that guy didn't even have a vest meaning that he was most likely a gennin as well.
"Just trust me on this." He said, forming a fist of sand to pick up Kankuro by the back of the neck.
Temari however, stayed for a moment, looking at the strange ninja Gaara had warned her about. He didn't look special save for his height really. If she had a closer look she might think differently.
Still Gaara wouldn't warn her for nothing. She shrugged, making a note of this before she turned to follow her brother.
Hinata walked into her fathers study, when she had arrived a branch member had immediately told her that her father requested an audience with her. She had merely nodded and with a simple check of the time she knew where he was.
As she opened the sliding door she steeled her features into one of cold indifference, hiding the pure resentment she felt for this man. "You called father?"
He nodded. "Hinata, I understand, Hatake Kakashi has sponsored you for the Chuunin selection exams."
She nodded, she didn't know how the hell her father always knew everything that had happened in her day before she even got here, it was kinda creepy really, but still, she wouldn't question him, she probably wouldn't get an answer anyway.
Hiashi nodded and turned back to the scroll he was reading. "Neji is also entering in the exam." He paused and Hinata felt her throat tighten. "Should you face him, make sure you do not disgrace the main house or yourself by losing to him Hinata. He is a branch member."
She clenched her fists to the point they cracked but held all emotion from her face. She bowed, 'Yes father." She bit out before turning and walking away.
As soon as she was out of Byakugan range she let her displeasure fully show on her face, this is why she despised that man, he cared more for images than his own family, it didn't mater that Neji was his nephew, that he was all that remained of his brother Hizashi. No, all that mattered to him was that the name of the Main House would not be marred by one of their members losing to a branch member.
She sighed, it was possibly for that reason that Neji was always so biter besides the death of his father. He would use every chance he got to get back at the main house, Hinata couldn't blame him really, but if she faced him in the exam, she'd be within a rock and a hard place.
On one hand, since she had no real wish to harm her cousin, she would just give up and grant him the victory, but her father had left her with little choice and if the rumors of Neji's skills were worth even half their merit, then she would be in for a tough fight.
"Urgh" She groaned in frustration rubbing her head as she walked off, muttering something that sounded like. "Stupid pompous political gaming bastard."
Gaara sat on the roof of his hotel, the moon hung high over his head as the crisp, cool night air blew against his tanned skin.
He liked the moon.
He remembered a time in his life, when the whispers from Shukaku, ran rampant through his thoughts. The demands for blood, the hunger for death and the craving for another person's suffering haunted him still, while now Shukaku's voice was naught but a faint whisper in the passing breeze he knew just why that was.
It was because of his father.
He remembered that strange night clear as if it was just yesterday, his father had come, and had seemingly changed overnight. He had felt that, perhaps it had just been a passing fancy, or a cruel ploy, his father was playing but…
As the days turned to weeks, the weeks to months and months passed to years his father continued to look at him with kind eyes, and despite Gaara's best efforts he could not find any hint of deception, or hate.
He had trained him, helped him learn how to control the sand and repress the beast. Even after Gaara, by accident had injured him horribly, he had been terrified then, that things would go back to the way they were, that his eyes would revert back to that cold look of hatred. But when he saw his father again, still wearing the hospital bandages, he had apologized fervently, and the man had merely grunted and said it was 'fine'
And that had been the end of it.
He had plenty of ideas, and theories that had formed at what had brought his fathers change, but none of them had any true consistency.
Today, a new idea presented itself and had gained merit when he spoke to Baki earlier and asked him when the alliance between Konoha and Suna had been finalized.
Six years ago, roughly around the same time his fathers change had occurred.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the shuffling of feet behind him. He turned his head and saw Temari rubbing the sleep out of her eyes tiredly. "Gaara." She mumbled stifling a yawn. "You should come back inside, you might catch a cold or something." She mumbled.
His lips quirked upwards in a smile. 'Temari, you know I cant get sick."
"Oh yeah." She said, dazedly as she plopped down next to him and put a hand around his shoulder, he managed to hold back his automatic sand from stopping her. She leaned against his shoulder. "Wha's wrong?"
"Nothing." He replied.
"Don't give me nothing Gaara, I'm your sister. I can tell these things." She said as she pulled away, poking at his temple.
He snorted and crossed his arms. "Well, if you must know, I was thinking about Father."
"Yeah, he has been acting kinda weird lately." Temari noted absently, "Do you think its just tension getting to him. I mean…Konoha is supposedly the strongest ninja village and even with the element of surprise we could still lose."
Gaara nodded and narrowed his eyes, now that he thought about it, his father had been acting strange, far to strange for his taste, so much so that simple stress or tension couldn't cover it. His eyes seemed to hold some sick glee as he mentioned they would go to war against Konoha that first time.
Before he could contemplate his thoughts further something caught his senses.
"Go back inside Temari, I'm going for a walk."
"Alright Gaara." She said, yawning as she made her way back into the hotel.
Gaara waited for her to slip back through the window before he leapt to the adjacent rooftop and continued leaping until he finally reached his destination.
He stared across the street from the roof of one store, straight to the black form of the strange Konoha ninja that he had seen earlier.
Naruto and Gaara stared at each other, both completely apathetic, though Naruto seemed to hold Gaara's gaze easier, though none could tell beneath his hood.
The living weapon leapt with grace, Gaara raised his head to follow his form as he crossed the distance and landed directly infront of him. Gaara took a slight step back to gain some distance between himself and the imposing gennin that towered over him.
After a few more seconds Naruto spoke. "Your chakra…" He began, his hollow voice reverberating through the area. "It is similar to my own."
Gaara narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you a vessel too?"
Naruto nodded, "Correct."
"Which one?" Gaara asked genuinely curious, he didn't think there were others out there like him.
"You possess your secrets and I possess my own." That said, Naruto turned to leave, but a firm hand on his shoulder by Gaara stopped him, he turned to face the Suna-nin fully.
"I would have your name." Gaara spoke, this one was definitely one to be wary of during the invasion, it would be good to warn Kankuro and Temari. "Sabaku no Gaara." He introduced himself extending his hand.
Naruto stared at the outstretched hand curiously for a moment. An offer of respect? Perhaps. People like themselves were few and far between. And…he supposed, that this Sabaku no Gaara merely wanted some form of…assurance? Even should they be enemies tomorrow, he supposed it was some form of…camaraderie or comfort that you were known by at least one other like yourself.
He would humor him.
He slowly extended his hand, his claws extending and griped Gaara's own. Strong, almost to the point of pain but the red head still delivered a firm handshake, the blond noted. "Uzumaki Naruto." He stated before turning and with a powerful leap the living weapon vanished into the darkness of the night.
The next morning, team seven walked up the stairs of the chuunin examination building.
As they walked up to the second floor, they saw two 'Gennin' bullying a group of others, a green clad boy get smacked across the face hard, sending him tumbling to the floor where his teammate caught him.
"You guys are too weak to be Chuunin, you should just go back home now" One of the ninja spoke.
Sasuke, trying to salvage some of his recently bruised ego walked up confidently. 'Yeah yeah, whatever you say, now drop the genjutsu, we're going to room 301." He stated smirking at the two slightly shocked ninja.
"Heh, so you saw through it, but now we gotta see if you can back that up." He said as he moved to kick the Uchiha. Sasuke also moved to attack when Naruto appeared between the two and caught their respective attacks. "This is pointless." He stated.
Sasuke snarled angrily as Naruto once again had the entire room looking at him. 'Showoff.' He mentally scoffed.
Lee, Tenten and Neji stared at the tall Gennin as team seven made their way through. There was a wariness in their eyes. None of them had even seen him move, he had just appeared. Lee was also quite startled, being a taijutsu expert his eyes had to adapt to his incredible speed, meaning he had faster than normal reflexes and even he hadn't caught anything.
The other Gennin that had been guarding the door moved to say something, but a quick dose, of highly concentrated killing intent froze him on the spot.
Naruto turned to his teammates. "Uchiha, Hyuuga." He commanded silently before moving ahead. Sasuke huffed angrily but followed none the less.
As Hinata passed Neji's eyes settled on her, holding barely veiled contempt. Hinata met his eyes unflinchingly as she passed. Soon, the gaze broke as she continued down the hall, not even turning to face her cousin.
Neji's knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.
As team seven walked towards room 301 they saw Kakashi standing infront of the door reading his familiar orange book.
He looked up to his…well…two students and smirked, "Glad you all came, now you can take the test."
"What do you mean sensei?" Was Hinata's slightly curious reply.
Kakashi smiled, "Well, its quite simple, if any of you would have stayed then none of you could have taken the test. This test is meant for a full three man team. 'Though with Naruto with you the whole gennin assembled could attack you and you'd still win'
"But…then why did you say it was from our own free will?" Sasuke spoke.
"Quite simply…I didn't want one to feel pressured to go because of the others. Even though Naruto could care less, Hinata would have been pressured anyway by her family and you wouldn't dream of passing up a chance to raise in rank.'
The copy nin stepped aside. "Well now, I believe you three are ready for your exams."
Sasuke and Hinata smirked as they moved passed the doors, followed closely by Naruto, as the blond passed his eyes met that of the copy ninjas. He nodded once, no words were spoken, but he understood the message.
'Take care of them.'
As soon as the gennin, entered the room they were met by heated glares.
Gaara, who was in the center of the room, caught sight of Naruto first. He heard Kankuro speak next to him. "Heh, weak Konoha nins."
"Kankuro." He cut in sharply making his older brother jump. "Be…careful of that one with the mask."
Kankuro scoffed. "Please! We have you here Gaara, you can kick anyone's ass." He said, ruffling his younger brothers head affectionately.
He didn't notice, that he never received an answer.
A girlish squeal was heard from the door. "SASUKE-KUN!"
It came from Ino, the Yamanaka girl, Naruto noted. She clung to Sasuke with a deathgrip. "I knew you'd be here!" She squealed again in his ear, not noticing the tick on his forehead.
"Troublesome." Naruto heard to the side. He turned and found the Nara boy, followed by the Akimichi walking up to Hinata. "So you guys made it here too eh Hinata?"
Hinata smirked and nodded. "Of course. Did you expect anything less?"
"So you guys are here too!" Came the boisterous yell from an Inuzuka boy as he approached them. Followed closely by an Aburame and a Kunoichi with pink hair.
Everyone was expecting for Sakura to blow up at Ino, but they were surprised when she turned to Hinata. "Hey Hinata, how have you been."
Sasuke silently thanked the gods that at least one of those troublesome fangirls gave up. What he didn't know is that he should really be thanking Yuuhi Kurenai, the genjutsu mistress that practically beat the fangirl-ism right out of Sakura. Setting her standard that she would not allow her to remain a… 'foolish excuse of a kunoichi' while she was on her team.
She succeeded.
Naruto watched as the group of young gennin conversed amongst themselves, seemingly without a care in the world. It was disturbing to him once again, in this exam, everyone was the enemy. Where they, all secretly trying to use a form of mutual camaraderie to gain information on the opposing team?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps they truly were that naive.
But as he searched their eyes, he found no hint of such intentions, no…ulterior motive.
He wondered for half a moment if his senses were getting dull?
He shook his head, coming to a quick conclusion.
Impossible.
Before he could further contemplate this a voice came from the side. "You guys should really quiet down."
They all turned and found a silver haired gennin. Or what appeared to be a gennin, Naruto noticed that his chakra was much to high and that he had the faint scent of snakes about him. There was only one person he knew with the scent of snakes.
He decided to observe for now, when the ninja named Kabuto pulled out his nin info cards he knew that he was most certainly a spy, no gennin had that kind of information.
When he asked if they wanted information Sasuke was the first to step up. "Uzumaki Naruto."
The blond narrowed his eyes, if the fool indeed had information he would make it his personal business to capture him, and make sure Ibiki discovered the leak in Konoha's security.
With a small puff of smoke, Kabuto pulled out the card and gasped slightly.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked with a hint of anticipation in his voice.
Kabuto looked up and turned the card, revealing stats that were completely blank, just question marks,
"I don't even have a picture?" Kabuto questioned. "You sure you got the right name?"
Sasuke seethed, just what the hell was up with Naruto.
Kabuto as well grew nervous, there was practically no one in fire country that he didn't have at least some semblance of information on, even if he would have given a false name something should have come up, at least a picture or something.
"Hey Sasuke, wheres your teammate anyway?" Kiba asked.
Hinata sweat-dropped and cleared her throat. 'Ummm, Kiba…"
The Inuzuka looked towards her and saw she was pointed at the individual that was a good three inches taller than him.
Ohhhhhh.
Before anyone could say anything there was an explosion of smoke in the front of the room.
"Alright you worthless Maggots sit down and shut up!
The chuunin exam has begun.