A long time ago, a demon fox with nine tails existed.
When that tail was swung, it could destroy mountains and cause tsunamis.
To counter it, the people of Konoha gathered ninjas.

"Hold it there until the Fourth arrives!"
"Don't let it get any closer to the village!"
The fight to save the Village of the Hidden Leaf was almost to no avail.
But one ninja sealed the monster in a life or death battle... and died.
That ninja was known as the Fourth Hokage.

Two Hokages later, in the same village...
"Hey!" called a Hidden Leaf Shinobi, running along the streets of the city. "Come back here! You're not going to get away with this any more!"
Another shinobi of the Village joined the chase. "What's happened?!"
The first motioned up to the five stone faces carved into the side of the mountain overlooking the city. They were the faces of the five Hokages that had preceded the current one-- and they were covered with graffiti!

"Agh!" cried the second shinobi. "Who's done this?! We've got to tell the Hokage!"
The first stopped running and sighed. "You can tell him yourself... if you can catch him."

"Hah hah hah!" came a voice from above! It was a blonde-haired man with long white robes, and a wide hat and big grin that were both lopsided. "Hey, what's the matter, get tired so quickly?!"

"Dangit Naruto-sama!" cried the first shinobi, trying his best to sound serious and keep a straight face. "Show some respect or dignity! We've got foreigners coming here today!"
Naruto grinned even wider, laughing. "Hey, don't talk to me about respect! You're the one chasing your superior around!"
As the shinobis sweatdropped, Naruto turned around, but bumped into his old teacher, Iruka!
"Hey there sensei!" grinned Naruto. "Like my improvements?"
The gray-haired Iruka smiled resignedly. "You're wanted at Konoha Main Hall, Hokage-sama."
Naruto nodded and followed, still chuckling.

This was Uzumaki Naruto, husband, father, Rokudaime Hokage, the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, and of course, a lifelong troublemaker.

This was the legendary Hidden Leaf Village, home once again to the chuunin exams. Today in this village twelve young genins, along with many others from around the world, would get the chance to gain the sought-after title of chuunin. Those who flourished in the trials today would prove to their village, the world, and most importantly, to themselves, that they deserved the title. It was the chance of a lifetime.

But in the world of Uzumaki Naruto, things don't always turn out so simply. Could a test designed to replace war go without a hitch in such troubled political times? Would the genins involved prove worthy of the challenges? What mysteries lie ahead, in this, the chuunin exam of the sixth generation, in this, the political hotbed strewn with grudges both old and new, in this...

THE NEWEST TEST

HOKAGE'S HOUSE

... Naruto hadn't changed a bit since childhood, but that was a good thing.

Uzumaki Hinata was sitting in her garden, her white eyes gazing up to the giant heads of the previous Hokage on the mountain, all of the Hokage heads now had various designs and drawings on them, thanks to the latest in the line of Hokage.

Hinata smiled and giggled, and then she stood up and started walking towards the gate that would lead to the main road. She was expected at the Main Hall, since she was wife of the Hokage. She walked quickly, but as she did a troublesome young youth in tan clothing came running by from behind and almost knocked her over as he came running down the road.

"Musashi! Slow down!" Hinata called to her son as he took off down the road much too fast.

"Sorry ma', see you later!" Uzumaki Musashi called as he ran down the road, running towards the main hall. He looked up at the mountain, which his father had undoubtably painted, and he laughed his head off. The Hokage wasn't very mature sometimes, but that was alright. Musashi liked that about his father. Anyone who could be the Hokage and still show no respect to a mountain that honored the Hokage was undoubtably not a very strict father.

Musashi ran as fast as he could towards the Konoha Main Hall, his right eye was gazing through the wall ahead of him and he could see a huge crowd of people gathered inside the Main Hall. Musashi quickly ran towards the window, which he would use to get inside since there was such a line, and once he arrived he quickly hopped up and went inside through the side window of the building.

Musashi looked around and grinned oddly. He ran forward and sat down on one of the benches. "Where's dad...?"

Musashi was looking around everywhere for the Hokage-sama.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
(( "Why do you use location indicators?" "Because they're there!" ;) ))

"Hey, Musashi!" called a voice. His teammate, Hyuuga Hitomi, ran over toward him, her jet black hair and eyes sparkling brightly. "I'm glad you're here! Have you seen Lee-sensei?"

KONOHA STREET
In the busy streets of Konoha, a girl leapt across the rooftops. It was Kamimatsu Suzune, out for a morning jog... or flight? The way she leapt from roof to roof, moving across the city quickly and freely, may not have been as quick as flying but she certainly seemed to be having as much fun.

She was supposed to be heading over to the Konoha Main Hall for the chuunin exam, but instead she was heading over to her teammates' houses to meet up with them first on the way there. Her friend Wan's house was closest, so she approached it...

"Excellent. You did good work."

"Why? Why did you attack me, nii-san?"

"So you would... do what you did... and so that you would obtain your true power... now please, tell Father... and take my--"

WHAM. Dreamtime was over. Who was having the dream? Later, people!

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Hey Hitomi!" Musashi ran over to the girl who was both his teammate, friend and cousin. He looked around the room, but he could not find any sign of their teacher, the famous ninja Lee. He shrugged and turned back to Hyuuga Hitomi. "Nope, Lee-san's not around..."

"Hyah!" Rock Lee cried out as he jumped down from the rafters and landed between Hitomi and Musashi. Musashi jumped back, freaked out by Lee's sudden apperance, and Lee beamed to his students.

"Konnichi-wa!" Rock Lee looked to the two. "And where is the third member of Team Lee?" He asked, for a man who believed in hard work as much as Lee did, did not believe in being late.

On the other side of Konoha's Main Hall, Rai Nanami entered and sat down silently. She was a member of Sasuke's team, but so far she had found none of her teammates. That was okay. Nanami kept to herself.

ELSEWHERE IN LEAF VILLAGE

"Roof!"
"Muh?"
"Roof!"
"Five more minutes..."
"Grrrr... Roof! Roof!"

Rice woke up and rubbed his sleepy eyes. Then he quickly reached around his bedroom for his glasses and when he finally found them and put them on, he looked at his dog on his bed, and then at his clock.

"Gah! We're late Komi!" Sama jumped out of his bed as he realized he was late for the the big meeting. Today was the Chuunin Exams! He had been waiting for months. And he was not even dressed yet.

"... Five more minutes won't hurt." Rice said to his large black dog, Komandi'r.

Yeah. That's a real-life account of Sama in the morning.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
"Lee-sensei!" cried Hitomi, snapping to attention. "Today I will become a chuunin! That is a promise!!" She smiled widely and gave a thumbs-up, Gai-style!

ABURAME HOUSE
"Goodbye."

Aburame Shiranai said this word to his parents as he left the house. "Wait a second, son," said his father Shino, standing in the doorway. "You've left your insects in your room."
Shiranai did not turn around. "I do not need them."
Shino narrowed his eyes behind his glasses. The Shino clan had a tradition of allowing a colony of insects to feed on a person's chakra, living on them and in them, in exchange for a symbiotic relationship. Shino knew that Shiranai's colony was slightly unorthodox for the Aburame clan, and that he was talented, but he thought that Shiranai was not--
"--taking this seriously enough." scolded Shino gently. "In my first chuunin exam--" began Shino, but he was cut off by the last word his son would ever say to him.

"Goodbye." Shiranai had not turned around, and now he left, his final word echoing silently behind him.

NARA HOUSE
(( Okay, frankly, I don't know if I ship Shikamaru/Ino or Shikamaru/Temari. S/T seems to be more canon, but I haven't read all the manga yet. Anyway, since Temari is from another village, and I like Ino on her own, I'm-a make this S/I. >:3 One thing's for certain, whoever she is, she'll be bossy! XD ))
"Hey! Get up! Come on, you have to get moving already."
"Bah... how troublesome..."
"What did you say to me?!"
"I'm coming... boy, what a drag."

Nara Shikamaru walked resignedly from his bedroom to the kitchen where Ino Temari was waiting. "Come on, honey, don't laze around," said Ino, getting up to shove him towards the door. "I'll come watch the later parts, but I'll be busy taking little Shikaro to the academy in the morning. When you get back I'll have some cleaning for you to do. Oh, and whatever you do, don't let Sakura's team outperform yours or I'll never live it down! Hey, don't just stand there yawning, come on, you're gonna be late!"

So Shikamaru's bunshin left the house and set off for Konoha Main Hall, guaranteeing Shikamaru at least five more minutes of sleep...

((ooooh... sibling fight...))

Outside KONOHA MAIN HALL

A fifteen-year old girl with blonde hair dark black sunglasses walked towards the hall. It's a good thing we're supposed to meet here, or else I'd be really lost... the girl thought to herself. She continued onwards to the hall, still thinking. I wonder if they're here yet... He's probobly sleeping still, and he's probobly sleeping, too. I wonder if bug boy's going to be here already, or if I'm going to be the first one here...

The girl then walked into the hall, and looked around for her teammates(?). Apparently, she was the first of her team to arrive, as she did not find anyone of her group there. So she went over to a nearby wall, and stood leaning against it, waiting for everyone else. As she did, she took off her sunglasses, revealing two bright green eyes, with spirals inside them, instead of normal pupils.

ON THE WAY TO SAN JOSE KONOHA

Three Sound Nin were approaching the village. In front of them, their tall, dark and brooding leading was walking slowly. The Sound Nin all went quickly, the silver bracers on their purple outfits gleaming in the sunlight.

"Mai, did you refil the water pouches at that stream?" Daichi asked.

"I refilled MY water pouch. You're on your own." Mai replied sharply. Daichi looked upset, but Otogani turned around.

"Enough," He said silently. "We will soon enter Konohagakure no Sato. I do not want you to embarress Hidden Sound Village. We have a lot to prove to Hokage Uzumaki... we must show him our village has changed since Orochimaru has left."

"Yes, Otogani-sensei." The three students all said at once, following the pale faced teacher into Konoha's Territory.

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Yes!" Lee also stuck up his thumb, much as his teacher had done. "That is good, Hitomi! What about you, Musashi? Will you become a Chuunin and do me proud?"

"Of course, sensei!" Musashi struck a dramatic Uzumaki-family pose. "Today is the day I prove myself, to you, to my father, and to the whole village!"

"Good! When today ends, I want to have three Chuunin graduate who are mine!" Rock Lee said confidently. "You have all trained very hard, and while you are not yet Chuunin, you have the potiental to be. Right Brock?"

"Hai!" Brock Lee, Rock's son, who was already a Chuunin from last year's exam, had just jumped down form the rafters like his father did earlier. Brock looked to Hitomi and Musashi and stuck up his thumb. "Good luck today! Remember your training and you'll be fine."

VILLAGE SQUARE

Hinata was on her way to the Main Hall, but she was also waiting for her own students. They weren't from Konoha, but from the Land of Vegetables. They had traveled her to learn from Hinata some time ago, because their village was small and they wanted to become great Ninja. Now Uzumaki Hinata just waited for them to arrive, on the day of the big exam.

As she waited, a familiar face caught her eye. A young boy with glasses, running very fast, towards the Konoha Main Hall.

"Hello Sama!" She called to the boy with no real name.

"Good morning Hinata-sama! I'm sorry, I'm late!" Rice called as he ran by, very fast, towards the building.

INUZAKA HOUSE
Suzune leapt down and knocked on the door. "HEY WAN-WAN!" she shouted. "You in there?! Come on!" She heard barking inside; the Inuzaka clan had a lot of dogs. But had Wan left already...? Maybe she should check Kenshin's house first?

For now she just waited... a few steps back from the door in case one of those man-sized dogs came out and mistook her for a tasty morsel.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
Hitomi blushed when Brock showed up, but kept her cool. "Yes!" she said. "We will become great shinobis of the Leaf! We have all trained very hard (most of us) and we will succeed! Believe it!"

"Ryukku." Aburame was suddenly standing nearby, having just walked up. "Do you know what villages will be here today." It was not stated like a question, but it was one.
So far, no foreign villages had shown up. But they were expecting arrivals from Otogakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kusagakure!

(( :D Yay for Ryukku! I love those eyes... :3 ))
(( Since Gaara's the big man, I'll let him decide where Team Kankuro and such are. ^_^ ))
(( For your enjoyment. :D ))

-Village Square-

“Maize-chan…Stop that…” Ize Galv muttered, being bothered by his female teammate. Galv was short, standing only at five feet tall, but being called short never bothered him in the least bit. He had shocking red hair. Which was incredibly messy. He his protector over his forehead, and dressed simply, as his tactic was speed. He was the youngest, at fourteen years old. He specialized in Electric Justu.

“Ahhh…But it’s fun Galv-kun!” Sylvan Maize teased, poking the year younger ninja. Her forehead protector was around her neck, the back hidden by her brown hair. Maize was fifteen years old. She learned any type of Justu she could.

“Both of you stop it!” the third member of Team Hinata shouted, the eldest of them, being twenty-five. He was Ize Cess, the elder brother of Galv, though Galv was only brother through adoptions. Cess stood tall at a little over six feet in height, and had black hair, and was the currently strongest user of his Advanced Bloodline. He specialized in Genjustu and what his family called, “Ghost Justu.”

“Hey! I see Hinata-sensei!” Galv suddenly said, pointing towards the wife of the Hokage.

The three walked over to their sensei and nodded their heads politely.

“Sorry we’re late Hinata-sensei. My little brother here was difficult to awaken,” Cess said, glaring at his younger brother.

Kenshin's home

Kenshin rolled, yes literally rolled out of bed onto the floor. He was curled up in a ball, and unrolled. Streching, and yawning he lazily rose to all fours, than to his two legs. He walked over to a mirror, and held his breath. Was today the day? Slowly, Kenshin opened his eyes, hoping to see them white, a sign that his Byakugan would be fully activated. Both to his dissapointment, his eyes were black today. Perhaps tomorrow? Kenshin stretched and started to get ready, sure the exams were soon, but his teamates would come to get him when it was time to leave.

????(Havent found a place for him to stay yet. Any family want to have him stay there? The Uchihas? The Uzumakis?)

Hikaru rose swiftly. Upon getting out of bed, he flipped straight to the mirror. He looked at his eyes. They were Dark Blue today. This was something Hikaru looked foward to everyday, his eyes changed color, and he liked to bet people on the color. Currently he owed $15. But he won the bet today, that ment the previous payments were off.

Hikaru was smiling, until he looked down at his hand, the scar was still there, still clearly visible. Hikaru frowned. This scar reminded him of why he was a ninja, of why he had to pass the exams, of why he had to protect his teamates.

Hikaru walked to the window, and again his eyes dropped a bit lower, his expression darkened. He watched family by family pass by his window. Hikaru didnt have a family. He was an orphan with no parents, both were killed early on in Hikaru's life, when he was just a baby. He wondered how people with parents felt. And he felt anger whenever someone complained about a parent, they didnt know how lucky they were. Hikaru often wondered if this was how the Hokage used to feel, back when he was teammates with Sasuke sensi.

But Hikaru smiled, and waved to them as they passed. Sure he felt pain, and sure he was often feeling left-out, but Hikaru had learned to look on the bright side of life. He started to smile again, and went to go get ready.

................

Hikaru, now all ready to go, fully dressed with all of his equipment, left the house. Today was the Exams, and today he would prove himself as the #1 Genin...

Running

Misaki watched Rice Sama go by, she decided to follow. After all they were both headed to the same place right?

"Hey, Sama. Whats up with you?"

Misaki. She was the younger twin, and had inherited the left Byakugan eye. She was a lot like both her parents, strong, rebellious, and determined, like her father, with a natural good sense of humor. And Kind, passionate, and shy around her special someone, from her mother of course.

((ACK! Everyone's here except teh Hokage!))

ON THE WAY TO THE MAIN HALL

Rokudaime Hokage Naruto (damn, that has a great ring to it!) continued to grin as he made his way to the Main Hall, looking back every so often at his master piece. He was so busy looking at the heads of the Hokages that he hardly noticed when he bumped into someone on the side-walk!

"Oh, sorry!" Naruto apologized, stepping backwards and waving his hands in front of him, only to realize just who it was.

"Naruto!" Uchiha Sakura laughed, waving with one hand. She suddenly got a jokingly serious look on her face and bowed. "I mean, 'Hokage-sama'."

Naruto laughed. "Hey! Did you notice the faces yet?"

"Who hasn't?" Sakura sweatdropped.

"Well, I just can't wait until MY face is added." He pointed to the monument. "Right there, next to Granny Tsunade!" He and his old team mate laughed, but soon Naruto noticed that Sakura had company.

Next to her stood her daughter, Uchiha Sayuri, whose hand was being held by her mother. Sayuri had a sour look on her face, no doubt embarassed.

"Hey, Sayuri!" Naruto grinned and waved. "Shouldn't you be getting to the Main Hall?"

Sayuri attempted a false grin. (Inner Sayuri!: "Shouldn't YOU?") "Mother, would you mind if I went ahead and found Lee-sensei and the others? We're already close to Wan's house."

"Go ahead." Sakura said, letting go of Sayuri's hand.

Sayuri ran down the street as fast as she could, trying to get to the Main Hall before all the good seats were taken.

INUZUKA HOUSE

Wan, stepping over pieces of dog food scattered all over the floor, made his way to the door and stepped out of the house, closing the door behind him. Orenji barked next to him, looking up at Suzune.

"Sorry for the wait, Suzune!" Wan apologized. "Has Kenshin showed up yet? Or we going to get him?"

INUZAKA HOUSE
Suzune grinned at Wan. "Good morning, Wan! And hey there, Orenji!" She bent down to pet him. Such a cute, small, non-gigantic dog. It was when they got big enough to eat birds that she stopped liking them. She looked up at Wan, still petting Orenji. "I think we'd better go meet him! But maybe we'd better hurry."

She stood up and started heading for the Hyuuga House.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~outside~
Shikamaru showed up, the real one. (He'd been caught.) He walked over to Ryukku and Shiranai, before Ryukku had time to answer the question. "Hey, guys." he said. "Got a big day, don't you?"

Shiranai looked at him, eyes unreadable behind dark glasses, and said nothing.

INUZUKA HOUSE

Orenji leaped onto Wan's shoulder, and then onto his head, making himself at home. Wan patted his dog on the head and followed behind Suzune.

"Suzune! Wan!" Sakura called as she walked up the sidewalk to her students. "Good to see you two are already on your way!"

Konoha MAIN HALL

Sayuri finally reached the Main Hall, looking around for her sensei and team mates. Lee would probably give her a speach on the subject, being such a stickler for punctuality, before telling her that mistakes and youth go hand-in-hand and such things are forgiveable in the Spring Time of your life and blah blah blah.

She heard Hitomi frist, talking about becoming a chunin and a great ninja of the leaf (Inner Sayuri!: "Doubt it!) and joined them, salkuting to Lee-sensei.

"Please excuse my tardyness, Lee-sensei, but my mother insisted on walking me halfway."

ON THE WAY TO MAIN HALL

Aside from the Hokage Naruto and Uchiha Sakura, there was another wise and powerful ninja in the road. He wore the standard kage's outfit, with the white robes and the big hat, although he still had those darn creepy eyes that scared children and puppies. Not that the Godaime Kazekage was evil! Not at all, actually he was a kind and fair ruler. He just had those frickin' creepy eyes, man.

"Naruto." Gaara spotted the man who had risen to be Hokage and he walked towards him. Behind Gaara were his three Sand Nin, including his daughter Maara. Just as Gaara was walking to say hello to Naruto, Maara ran past him and looked up at Naruto and Sakura.

"Hello! I'm Sabaku no Maara! You're the Hokage, aren't you? I can tell because you dress like my father does. Are you Naruto? I heard about Naruto. Are you him? And who are you? What's your village like? Why isn't there more sand here? Do you not like sand? What's your favorite food? Is there somewhere where I could get some food around here? Don't you get hungry after a long trip? I sure do. I've had a real long trip from the Sand Village."

"Maara." Godaime Kazekage Gaara spoke her name and his daughter fell silence. She muttered a quick apology to Naruto and Sakura and then ran back behind her father with the other Sand Nin.

Gaara's CREEPY eyes drifted up to the Hokage mounment. "... Been busy this morning?" He asked Naruto.

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Lee-Sensei was watching the people show up one after another. However, Sayuri wasn't here yet, and she would have to be for them to begin. Then he spotted her coming and was pleased. His entire team, and his son, were almost here.

"Now listen UP!" Rock Lee said when Sayuri reached the team. "Team Lee will pass the Chuunin Exams! The Chuunin Exams are a old and ancient tradition, and also very, very dangerous. I remember my own Chuunin Exam... You must not undesestimate your enemy for even a moment! Go out there and use everything I've taught you!"

He held up his thumb and his teeth gleamed.

Musashi hadn't been paying attention at all. (It's Genetic) Instead he bounced over to Sayuri. "Hey! Are you ready?" He asked in a futile attempt to make conversation.

RUNNING

Rice stopped and turned around, spotting Misaki. He nodded to her, but kept running as fast as he could to get to the Konoha Hall.

"I'm just hoping I get to the Exams before they start!" Sama called back.

VILLAGE SQUARE

"Welcome Team!" Hinata smiled to the three nin she was supposed to train. "Are you ready for the Chuunin Exams?"

Hinata's mind briefly flashed back to her own exam. That had been... a wonderful time. Yes, she had almost lost her life in a vicious battle with her brother who had been all too willing and wanting to kill her; but... Naruto-kun had first payed attention to her in the Exams.

Hinata found herself pushing her index fingers together and blushing, and realized that this was actually years later, and she actually had two children with Naruto. Hinata coughed and then lead her team towards Konoha's Main Hall.

(( Awww! Hinata-chan, so adorable! :3 ))

ON THE WAY TO KONOHA MAIN HALL
Sabaku no Yasharo, Gaara's son, and Sabaku no Yuurei, Gaara's adoptive son, were also there. Along with Sabaku no Maara, they made up Team Kankuro. But apparently Kankuro was a little slow...

"Greetings!" said Yasharo, bowing pleasantly to Sakura and Naruto. Yuurei, with his long black cloak and hood pulled over his head, just looked at them shyly. Despite being adopted, he'd somehow gotten those creepy eyes too...

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~inside~
(( XD! Excellent! This team has such an excellent dynamic already! ))
Hitomi scowled when Sayuri showed up. With two excellent clans and a powerful two-eye bloodline limit, Sayuri didn't understand how important hard work was to becoming a ninja! Everything came so easily to her! (At least in Hitomi's view.) And she just knew Sayuri thought Hitomi would never become a great ninja!

Then Lee started speaking, and Hitomi paid rapt attention. "No understimation of enemies! Use everything we've been taught! Got it!" she said, writing this all down. Hitomi saluted. "I will not fail you, sensei!!"

~outside~
Shikamaru turned and looked around. "I wonder when Sama will show... maybe if he doesn't we can go back home..."

ON THE WAY TO HYUUGA HOUSE
"Hi, sensei!!" chirruped Suzune, waving her arms. "Yep, we're gonna go get Kenshin right now! Wanna come?"

Running

"Sweet, I shall accompany you, dont see me teammates around anyways."

Misaki increased her speed, so she was now running side by side with Rice Sama. She was feeling tempted to ask him to race.

Rooftops

"There is no need to." Kenshin dropped down from the rooftop he had been on. " Good morning sensei! Todays the big day, isnt it you guys?" We should probaly get going, both if the Hokage is here, I guess there is no real rush."

ON THE WAY TO KONOHA MAIN HALL

Maara looked over at Yuurei and went and grabbed his hand and pulled him over.

"Come on! Say hello to the Hokage!" She was quite annoying when she was happy. And if you tried to stop her happiness, she was quite dangerous.

RUNNING

Rice seemed to notice that Misaki wanted to race. So he was happy to ablidge by running as fast as he could, which was surprisingly fast!

Inside

While Hitomi was scowling at Sayuri, Musashi was smiling and waving dumbly. He was a lot like his father had been -- err, was. Musashi believed both of his partners would become great ninja, just like him. He wanted to prove to his father that he was the best young ninja in the village. That meant not only passing, but winning the chuunin exams. It would be hard, yes, but that made it more interesting.

ON THE WAY TO THE HYUUGA HOUSE... BUT STOPPING BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO GO THERE ANYMORE!

Sakura nodded to her students. "Good! Let's get going!"

Then, when Kenshin landed in front of them, Sakura waved her hand sideways, sighing. "No, no. Hokage Sama won't be getting there until later, I'm SURE of it!"

ON THE WAY TO THE KONOHA MAIN HALL

Naruto sweatdropped. Maara wasn't at all like Gaara had been! But he saw Gaara, who pointed out his lastest work on the Hokage faces.

"Oh, yea!" Naruto replied, laughing. "You bet, Gaara. Glad to see you decided to go ahead and come, since usually the Kazekage waits until the final test to watch the Chunin Exams!" He smiled. "We're honored ta have ya!"

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Sayuri glared right back at Hitomi. A Hyuuga... but not a Byakugan user! Well, it wouldn't even be a contest as soon as Sayuri unlocked the Sharingan! But the Uchiha broke off the death gaze once Musashi started waving and asking questions.

"Yesh, Musashi." She replied, patting him on the head for him to give her some space. "I'm ready."

ON THE WAY TO THE KONOHA MAIN HALL

Gaara remained for the most part expressionless.

"My nin are also my children." Gaara told Naruto. "I came to watch them. They will make it to the final exam."

Maara walked along happily. It's a mystery where her personality came from.

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Musashi was as clueless to any rivalry between Hitomi and Sayuri as his father had been to, well, a lot of things. Aside from that, Musashi was busy thinking about the battle. This would be it. This would be his big chance to prove himself to everyone. His father... his mother... Sayuri... Lee-sensei... he'd show them all that he was one of the best Nin in the village!

(( :3 Everyone just rocks so much! ))

ON THE WAY TO KONOHA HALL
~Inu Street~
"Hi, Kenshin!" warbled Suzune. She giggled. "Haha, yup, no rush. But we should still probably get over there just in case Hokage-sama decides to show." She giggled, paused... and then took off! Running, of course. Would the others take the bait and race?

~Main Street~
"......Hello, Hokage-sama." said Yuurei quietly, not looking at Naruto. Then he turned around and faced the other way.

Yasharo smiled at Naruto. "Hello, Hokage-sama. I am Yasharo of the Desert, Sabaku no Yasharo. Nice to meet you!"

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~outside~
Shikamaru watched as Sama approached from far away in the distance. Well, he was here later than the others, but at least he was going fast! ...Very fast.

Shiranai was silent.

~inside~
Hitomi scowled. "Hey!" she said loudly to Sayuri, glaring at her. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
Maybe she thought Sayuri had put too much emphasis on the "I'm." Or perhaps the "'Eye''m"? XD Either way, Hitomi had too much at stake today to put up with any (imagined!) insults from Sayuri!

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Inside

Musashi was still oblivious. He didn't understand the fine rivalry between the Hyuuga and the Uchiha on his team. Still, that didn't bother him, mainly because he did not realize it was happening at all.

"Hey!" Brock jumped in between them. "Is everyone ready? We'll probably begin soon once Hokage-sama gets here!"

Outside

Rice liked to run, but unfortunately he was running a bit too fast and...

... crashed right into Shikamaru-sensei!

ON THE WAY TO KONOHA MAIN HALL

"And I already introduced myself, I'm Sabaku no Maara. How big is your village? Are you a good ninja? You're not as good as my father! When are we going to become chuunin? I can't wait for the exams. Do you have something special planned for the exams?"

Maara really liked to talk.

(XD OMG, word play!)

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"WHat's WHAT supposed to mean?!" Sayuri asked loudly. "All I said was that I was ready! You wouldn't take that as an insult unless YOU weren't ready!" She attempted to calm herself down, folding her arms. "ARE you ready? I don't want you dragging us down!"

ON THE WAY TO KONOHA MAIN MALL
~Inu Street~ (great system, BR! :3)

Wan wouldn't have raced Suzune... if Oreji hadn't bitten his ear for him to run!

"AH!" Wan yelped, running to catch up to Suzune.

Sakura sweatdropped and followed her students.

~Main Street~

Naruto waved to the other genin.

"My kids are competing today, too." Naruto told Gaara, starting to walk with him towards the Main hall. "Can't wait to see how everyone performs!"

((gotta go!))

Few miles away from the Konoha entrance

"Kashuri-senseeeeeiiiii!!! Are you sure this is the way?"

"I'm quite shure of it, yah... Why ashk?"

"Sensei, you're drunk again."

"Sho what? I shtill know tha way! It'sh that way!"

This conversation was led between 5 very interesting, very strangely dressed and apparantly very much touchy subjects. The first one who was talking was a girl of around 14 or 15 years old, hair let go so freely and so long it could make Ino look inferior with it;s length. She was tapping her foot in impatience.

The second speaker was the oldest in the group. A man of around 30, quite a handsome guy with a patch over one eye, he was swaying like he was truly a drunken sailor. In his left hand was a bottle of sake. In his right... A bottle of sake. And both were nearly empty.

Around them, three more individuals were waiting. One was standing patiently with a strangely-designed forehead protector, dressed in a ninja garb that more modern styles look upon: dark clothing fitting tightly to make for free movement and armor pieces on the most vital parts.

The second individual was standing there, yawning, his eyes barely open. His hair, unlike everyone else's, was bright-red and offensive and stood up in the form of a flame He also wore a dark jumpsuit with red seams and flame decorations on them. Across his chest was a belt with a clasp on which the symbol of his clan was displayed.

And the last individual... Was not listening to anything at all, swaying his head as if to some invisible beat. If you got close enough to his ears, you'd hear pounding music. He was definitely the best looker of this entire group, and would also be the best looker of his village as well. Hait tied back in a ponytail on the base of his neck and his clothing that was encredibly loose and free-moving. Every move of his body told you that he was a natural dancer.

In the meanwhile, while we examined the said subjects, Maya, the girl with long, flowing, blue hair was arguing furously with their sensei, who just finished both bottles of sake, but was still on his feet. Quite a feat. He spun around, and pointed in the opposite direction of the village.

"KonoHA izhat way. Get it? HA? Hehe... And there go the bottles of shake on the wall..."

Maya shrugged.

"Let's hope you know what you're doing..."

"Dun' worreh! I'm an exshpert!"

And the sensei led his trainees in the opposite direction of Konoha...

(You will start the scavanger hunt, BR, but I need to get my chars into Konoha in the middle of it or something. Not at the end. I am going to be gone for most of the day, but I'll be back at about 7-9 pacific time)

(( XD! Very memorable characters, HA! I'm sure they'll fit right in... if they ever get here... XD ))
(( Hooray for systems and wordplay! :3 ))

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~inside~
"Aha!" said Hitomi angrily. "I knew it! I knew you didn't think I was ready! Well, guess what! I am ready and I'm going to do way better than you! So there!"

Hitomi and Sayuri had once been the best of friends... until they had a fight FOR SOME REASON. ~le gasp~ Since then the admittedly sensitive Hitomi and her former friend had had a rivalry...

(( OMG backstory! Now with 100% more tradition! :3 ))

~outside~
"Oof!" said Shikamaru, taking the hit. He took a deep sigh, catching his breath.
"...You're not that late, Sama... You didn't need to go that fast."

(( I'll start the scavenger hunt soon, just gonna wait until the rest of Team Sasuke shows up. ^_^ ))

((Umm... didn't Kimi say Sayuri can be seen trying to unlock Sharingan in public... meaning she doesn't have it yet? Maybe Sama is just confused...))

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Hey you too!" Musashi said coming between his cousin and his crush. "Don't fight each OTHER! Save your anger for the exams! We gotta beat all those other teams and become the Number One Team in Konoha!"

Musashi had to prove himself to his father... which is why...

"Besides, don't worry you two! I... I have a secret weapon!" Musashi wanted to say more, but Lee-sensei was right there, and Musashi didn't want to get caught! Lee would tell his father, and Musashi still needed it.

Outside

"Sorry Shikamaru-sensei!" Sama jumped up and brushed off his ninja uniform. "I'm just excited about the exam, and Misaki-chan and I were racing so I got carried away..."

Outside

Misaki came skidding to a halt, very gracefully.

"Aww man, I lost. I'll beat you next time...Hikaru!"

Hikaru turned the corner, having just walked to the temple, and was instantly assulted by a hug from Misaki.

"It's nice to see you too. Good morning Rice Sama, Sensei Shikamaru. Good luck today in the exams!"

Misaki and Hikaru walked into the Mainhall, seeing Nanami, they walked over to her and sat down.

"Whats up?" They both asked together, very cheerfully.

Running

Kenshin shook his head.

"We'll meet you at the Main Hall sensei." Kenshin took off in a burst of speed. He quickly caught up to his teamates. "Cmon you guys, we need to get there, and soon." Kenshin went down on all fours, and began to run even faster...

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Inside

Nanami looked up at Hikaru and Misaki and she looked at them with blank black eyes.

"Nothing is going on yet," She said somberly. "The Chuunin Exams haven't started yet. Although I can't wait for them to begin..."

Rai Nanami leaned back and looked up at the cieling. She was ready for this. Before she came to Konoha, she had a lot of training... hard training... unhappy training... she was ready.

(( Okay then... I'll get it started up soon... ))

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~inside~
With a big gush, all of the people who had been in the hall on business were told to leave. The crowds left the building so now it was easy to enter. At the far end of the room stood Morino Garuru, one of the exam proctors. He'd give the starting speech once the Hokage was here to endorse it... but where was everyone? Only three teams out the expected eleven were inside the hall...

Hitomi made a pouting, scowly face and looked away.

~outside~
Shikamaru smiled at Sama after saying hello to Hikaru and Misaki. "Hey, calm down, okay? Don't worry about it."
Shiranai walked into the hall as everyone else left. Shikamaru watched him go. "I guess he's got the right idea. It's probably time to go in now."

Suzune kept running. They were almost there, but she wasn't in the lead! She ran faster, as fast as she could, grinning all the way.

(( :o BR, I am totally for teh Sayuri/Hitomi being like Sakura/Ino friendship-rivalry thing! Hoora! But yea, Sayuri hasn't unlocked teh sharingan yet... but two ninjas from two major clans can more than easily find a reason to stop being friends and stop being rivals! ))

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Sayuri sighed angrily, turning away from Hitomi. But at the mention of a secret weapon, she directed her attention to Musashi.

"What kind of weapon?" She asked in a whisper, leaning to hear.

RIGHT OUTSIDE THE MAIN HALL

The Hokage had finally arrived! Naruto began walking quickly into the main hall, waving innocently.

"Okay, okay!" He called. "I'm here... now.. Hey, where is everyone?" He looked around only to see a few teams inside. "I finally get here and nobody shows up?"

RUNNING, GETTING LCOSER TO THE HALL NOW

Uchiha Sakura started running as well, past all three of her students!

She looked back at them and laughed. "Come on, you three!"

Wan's mouth hung open-- no way could he run as fast as his sensei!

-Konoha Main Hall-

“Made it!” Galv said, as Team Hinata got into the hall, looking around.

Cess frowned slightly, looking at the young ninjas assembled. He was easily the oldest one here taking the test, at least, so far it seems.

“Well, hopefully we won’t have to wait to long,” Maize muttered, tapping her foot impatiently.

Cess sighed, thinking over what the Elders of his village had told him before the three ninjas had left to train in the Leaf Village.

Looking at his younger brother and Maize, the message went through his head.

“You may very well be the strongest ninjas of this clan…We are weak. All three of you must pass the Chuuin test, or we may very well be overrun…” the Elders had told Cess. The Ghost Justu user hadn’t shared this information with his younger adoptive brother and Maize though. He didn’t want them worrying.

“Alright Maize-chan! We can handle anything that comes are way! With your know how of a lot of Justu, my Electric Justu, and my big brother’s Ghost Justu, we can handle anything!” Galv shouted, jumping up and down in excitement, making his red hair and very good target.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
Outside

Sama scratched his head and sighed, looking up at Shikamaru.

"Is the exam starting soon, Sensei? I've been looking forward to this for so long..."

Sama sighed. He was a nobody. He didn't have a clan, or even a real name.

Inside

Just as the Hokage showed up, so did the Kazekage. However, Gaara was just a observer, so he just went and stood in the back, his creepy eyes looking around the room and pausing on Naruto, who was speaking now.

Maara looked like she was dying: having to be quiet!

Not far away, Hinata entered the building followed by Team Hinata. Hinata turned to her team.

"I'm rooting for all of you. Remember all of your training." Hinata told them.

Otogani and the Sound Nin team arrived. The sound nin all walked in quietly and kept to themselves, not wanting to speak to anyone else. Otogani, however, approached the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama," Otogani said, bowing to the famous Naruto. "It's a honor to see you. The Hidden Sound Village has arrived, and is ready. We will take our seats now..."

Otogani snapped his fingers and his team went inside the Main Hall. Otogani walked away quietly, smirking his thin lips.

Musashi grinned and leaned over to Sayuri. Then he opened his jacket and showed her several scrolls that were hidden inside his Naruto-styled-Hinata-colored coat.

"These are some of my dad's scrolls," Musashi whispered. "I stole them a couple weeks ago to practice! He doesn't have a clue!"

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Naruto nodded to Otogani. "We hope you enjoy your stay while your students compete in the Chunin Exams." He tried to sound serious for a jounin from a different vllage... even though he hadn't been as serious for Gaara... but they had histroy! XD

Sayuri observed Musashi's -- or his father's-- scrolls.

"Scrolls?" She asked. "Do you even know how to use them? I have a summoning scroll, but just what do scrolls belong to Hokage-sama do?"

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Dad's scrolls have all kinds of jutsu on them!" Musashi beamed, thrilled to have swiped them from his father. "They look really old, though... at least some of them do... I bet they're from when my dad was younger!"

Musashi then grinned. Oh it would be so cool if he could show off what he'd learned from them to answer Sayuri's question as to if he knew how to use them... but if he did that, dad would find out he stole them, and he hadn't mastered the really tough stuff yet!

"Yeah, I learned some new jutsu from them. It's... not easy. Dad has a lot of chakra, and he's better at using it than me. Still, I can do some of this stuff, and it's really cool! I bet with these I can help the team. And you and Hitomi are both so strong, so I know you'll both be good."

Indeed! Gaara had history with Naruto, and Gaara considered Naruto his best friend. Still, Gaara wasn't all that friendly. He wasn't the fun-loving kage that Naruto was.

Otogani smiled to Naruto. "Hokage-sama... I promise you, I know I will enjoy myself." He said darkly. "And I hope that the Leaf Village has a equally good time."

-Konoha Main Hall-

“Did I hear someone talk about new Justu?” Maize wondered, suddenly appearing by Musashi, grinning from ear to ear. Galv had followed her.

“Don’t mind Maize-chan here…She just gets excited whenever she hears or sees new Justu,” Galv explained.

Cess stood by over with his sensei, looking over at Galv and Maize, grinning slightly and shaking his head.

“Teenagers…” he muttered.

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Wow, you have good ears, because I was whispering. Although my new jutsu isn't any of your business!" Musashi yelled at these nin who had shown up. "Besides, you can't use them, you need a Byakugan to use them!" Musashi lied, trying to make them go away.

Hinata had heard too, but she didn't say anything to her son or her students. Instead she looked across the room to see Naruto.

(Just pretend she's older. XD)

KONOHA MAIN HALL
Shikamaru led Sama and Ryukku inside (sorry for teh autoing! ^^;) and stood near Shiranai.
Team Shikamaru: Check!

Hitomi stopped sulking and leaned in to listen to Musashi talking to Sayuri, close enough so that Rock Lee and his son Brock Lee wouldn't hear. "Cool!" she said. "I will master those jutsus as well, even if it takes me a year! I can do it!"
Team Lee: Check...?

Cess, the ghost-jutsu user, and his brother Galv, the electric jutsu user, as well as their friend Maize, were all assembled around Hinata! They were from another country, but they were still Konoha genins... soon to be chuunins?
Team Hinata: Check!

The team of the Otogakure was the rude female Kataiwa, the tough Okanishi, and the giant Murazawa. They were led by the mysterious Otogani, who was also basically their village's kage as well (though obviously, being a sensei and from a non-KageFive Village, he wasn't).
Team Otogani: Check!

At some point, the genins from the Hidden Cloud Village had shown up along with their sensei. Apparently their Raikage planned to wait until later in the chuunin exam to show up, as was traditional custom (though obviously not strict).
Team Amaya: Check!


Konoha's once-enemies and longtime friends, Godaime Kazekage Gaara and his children, Maara, Yasharo, and Yuurei, were all standing near Naruto.
Team Kankuro: Not check! Where the heck is Kankuro?!

Nanami, Hikaru, and Misaki were all waiting and talking...
Team Sasuke: Not check! Sasuke's late?! Well, maybe he's hiding...

The talented Kunnai, the hot-headed Lavan, the music-loving Odariko, and their spunky friend Maya were still wandering around in the forest following their hopelessly drunk sensei.
Team Kashuri: Definitely not check! XD

Outside, Suzune was still running fast to keep up with Wan, Orenji, and Kenshin. It looked like Sakura was going to get there first!
Team Sakura: Not check!

And what's more, the genins from Kusagakure and Iwagakure hadn't even shown up at all...

The chuunin exam was about to begin! :D
(( How's that for a quick review? ;D ))

KONOHA MAIN HALL

Any other Hokage would've found what Otogani said to be extremely creepy... but Naruto was too busy being careless to, well, care.

Sayuri looked at Maize and Galv. How rude, interupting a conversasion like that. (Inner Sayuri: "Get lost, you freaks!")

"Musashi, maybe you should put those away before your father catches you; he is HERE afterall." Then, Sayuri heard what Hitomi promised: to master the jutsus inside the scroll. She cose not to say anything, since she preferred not to embarrass herself by letting other people know that she considered Hitomi a rival.

KONOHA MAIN HALL
~inside~
Hitomi scowled deeply. "HEY! I thought you said you'd let us learn these?!" He hadn't, but it was possible to misinterpret him that way! "And now you're saying you need that- that dumb eye?! I see how it is! Hmph!"

Hitomi turned on her heel and stormed off. "Come on, you two, introduce me to your friends! Your friends, who are not Musashi and Sayuri! Hmph!"

(( Woah... her personality is writing itself... this wasn't my original intention! XD ))

~outside~
Yep, Sakura sure was going to get there first! Probably!

Yep!

KONOHA MAIN HALL

"Hey! Hitomi-chan! Wait!" Musashi sighed. He had lied about needing a Byakugan to get rid of the other nin, but she didn't know that. He knew she was sensitive to not having Byakugan despite the Hyuuga bloodline. He sighed and looked to Sayuri.

"Man... she's mad at me." He sighed and sweatdropped. "But you're right!" He closed his jacket. "If dad sees me with these scrolls, I'm in trouble!"

-Konoha Main Hall-

You can't hear Inner Sayuri... It's in Sayuri's head. :Knuckles:

“Hey…We’re not freaks!” Maize yelled. Though inside, she was grinning. She had been able to steal a small sneak at the scrolls, and was attempting to try and figure it out.

“Hey…we might not be from here, but we’re not here to cause any harm. I’m sure Maize-chan will show you a few Justus as well,” Galv said.