Directly after returning from wave:

Guy's POV;

Our encounter with the Demon of the Bloody Mist and this strong Uzumaki wasn't really something I like to call fortunate or even fruitful. I'm just glad that this Uzumaki didn't have the intention of killing us. He had beaten me without any real trouble and could even keep on with my speed after opening four of the eight gates. He only turned serious after I opened the fifth gate. He clearly knew about the none linear strength increase someone gains with opening each further gate.

His seals were devastating and hammered the believe that he really is an Uzumaki further in. But weren't they all dead? Sure, I heard about this new village that claims to be Uzushiogakure, but if it's true that he's from there, then we are up to have new strong players in the field. And the things he said about Konoha betraying his allies also kinda worries me. I know that unyouthful things have to be done during war, but we never betrayed one of our oldest allies, did we?

“That would be all, you are dismissed”, said the Hokage after Kakashi gave his report and we both replied with a “Yes Sir!”. But while Kakashi decided to leave, I stayed. What this Uzumaki said is nagging on me and there is only one thing I can do, asking the Hokage.

“Is something Guy?”, he asked and looked up from his paperwork.

“Yes Hokage-sama, the Uzumaki I fought said something that is troubling me”, I replied and Sarutobi-sama took his pipe out to nibble on it before he put it back down.

“Well then, tell me. Maybe I can help you with solving your problem”, he said in his reassuring grandfatherly tone.

“Yes Hokage-sama, he claimed that Konoha betrayed Uzushiogakure during their downfall and that we were a village that kills innocent children. It troubles me deeply that someone accuses us of such unyouthful things”, I said and tried to show my concern in this matter as best as I could.

The Hokage sighed deeply and it seemed like he sorted his thoughts before answering; “I can assure you that he wasn't speaking the truth. I think he meant that we didn't send help, which was sadly not possible during that time. The war against Suna simply didn't allow us to weaken our borders, which we would have had to do if we wanted so sent reinforcements.

He must be someone who survived the attack and is now blaming Konoha for their downfall.

A thing that is mostly seen in traumatized Ninja that saw too many cruel things in the field”. He was genuinely saddened and I couldn't stop my own tears from falling down.

Someone who must have seen his own village burning down is truly to be mourned. No one should be forced to live through this.

“Thank you Hokage-sama for helping me in times of trouble”, I then said and left after a bow.

Maybe I'll see this man another time and then will be able to show him the truth.

A month later:

Dexter's POV;

The Wave mission was now over a month ago and we went back to our daily routines.

My team and I just finished our first training round and got ready to proceed with our daily D-Rank missions, when Guy-sensei called us over. He had three papers in his hand and we all knew that these were the application forms for the yearly Chunin exams. This year they will be held in Konoha and it's also that they will be bombed by Orochimaru and Suna.

Suna, by the way, still managed to cease the war with Kiri. They signed a none aggression pact and will stay away from each other from now on. Neither side could afford to continue with their small war.

Kiri could not because the rebels were a constant thorn in their side and they simply weren't able to purge this thorn. Their standing army was getting weaker by the week and they only barely held the name of one of the Five Great Villages now. They nonetheless sent a few Genin teams for the exam. It was a show of strength, false strength. Their days will soon be counted. If Zabusa fails to send a signal after the exams I will go there personally and knock a few doors in.

As for Suna, they couldn't continue the war because their economics were breaking in. War is expensive and they simply had not the money for it. Many high paid missions were sent to Konoha.

The Daimyo of Suna seems not to care for his hidden village. The true reason for their participation, other than that Orochimaru will kill the current Kazekage

Good that Uzu stayed away from this kind of politics. We're still kinda reliant on missions from outside, but don't need money to maintain the village, like it is with most other hidden villages.

By the way, Uzu is also sending one Genin team. We had small problems with assigning our larger team, but it good cleared nonetheless.

“The Chunin exams will start next week, like last year I have assigned you again. I hope that your flames of youth will burn bright and strong again. But know this, I will always be proud of you and your choices”, declared Guy and gave each of us a sheet.

“So this time we take part in it with intent to win?”, asked TenTen once each of us had their application form.

“Yes, we are way stronger than last year. All of us have more experience and will have an easier time than last year”, I affirmed.

“YOSH, our flames of youth will burn down any hindrances in our way of becoming strong Ninja”, declared Lee.

“You have the rest of the day of. Tomorrow we will start with specialized training for the exams if you choose to participate”, said Guy finally and vanished in a Shunshin.

“Well then see you tomorrow”, said TenTen and left as well. I followed suit and left Lee to his own training. He was again rumbling about things he will do if he doesn't manage to finish the previous thing. And like all times, he will tire himself out until he falls asleep, while still being on the training ground.

But that was not interesting. Interesting was that I now knew that Gaara was inside the village. I just have to find him.

°And you're sure you aren't against my plan?°, I asked Kura-chan for the hundredths time.

°Yes, Dex-kun. It's not like Shukaku will die from it, only severely weakened°, she answered in a somewhat annoyed tone.

°Good, then let's hope that it will work out like I planned°, I said and made my way towards Gaara.

I found him on a tree, watching his siblings and Konohamaru, as well as my Naruto clone.

°So he got friends with them?°, asked Kura-chan.

This would really be funny, my clone was intended to do things that Naruto originally did, but he normally wouldn't have befriended Konohamaru. Maybe he's only here by chance?

“What? You want me to put him down? This punk run into me, I think I have to show him some manners”, said Kankurou threateningly.

“I don't care what you do with him, but it would do you good to do so. He's the grandson of the current Hokage”, said my clone and strolled past them. Not the least bit interested in them. So chance it was.

“Hmpf, as if that could stop me”, replied Kankurou and started to move his fist, so that he would hit the child. He never finished this move, as a pebble hit his forehead and Sasuke showed himself standing on another tree.

“What? More weaklings?”, taunted Kankurou and Sasuke visibly scowled.

“Kankurou, stop it or I'll kill you”, said Gaara now from his position. Kankurou hurriedly put Konohamaru down, who run off as fast as he could.

“Yes Gaara”, he then said and stepped back. Gaara used his sand shunshin to appear in front of my clone and ignored Sasuke completely. This, of course, annoyed the 'last' Uchiha, who also jumped down, heavily.

“I can feel something in you, mother demands your blood but also says that you are not real. I nonetheless am eager to spill it for her”, he then said in his creepy, but cool, manner.

“Yeah? Then tell Shukaku that he can fuck himself and that the boss will come for him”, said Naruto with a snarl.

Gaara looked slightly surprised that Naruto knew the name of his tenant and both Temari and Kankurou showed it as well. Gaara began to laugh maniacally and turned around to leave, but stopped in front of his siblings.

“Tell me, what is your name?”, he then asked.

“Sasuke Uchiha”, declared Sasuke from his position.

“Not you, the true one in the trees”, said Gaara dismissible and looked at me.

°He must've felt my Chakra°, informed me Kura-chan.

“Dexter Uzuki”, I said and noted with amusement that Sasuke was fuming with anger.

“It will be a pleasure to spill your blood Dexter Uzuki, a pleasure”, Gaara laughed and left with another sand shunshin.

Both Temari and Kankurou followed him as fast as they could.

“Why should he be interested in you Uzuki?”, asked Sasuke once they were gone.

“Doesn't concern you Uchiha”, I simply said and left as well. So B and the other Bijuu will sense Kura-chan even if I suppress most of her Chakra. That is troubling, but I don't think it will truly matter after the exams.

I reappeared at home and went inside, where I found Yuugao-nee and her boyfriend Hayate. The constantly sick man was now going out with her for a few month.

“I'm home, hi Mr. Gekkou”, I said and greeted the man that was sitting in our living room.

“What did I tell you about my *cough* name Dexter?”, he asked back and gave me a wave in greeting.

“That I am to call you Hayate and not Gekkou”, I answered and strolled past him.

“Yes *cough*, and why won't *cough* you do it?”, he asked.

“I like Gekkou more. Where is Yuugao-nee?”, I said and looked around, and then searched for her Chakra. She was inside her bedroom.

“She's changing, we're having a date”, he answered with a smile and then coughed a few times.

“Is that so? Well, you know the drill. Hurt her and I'm gonna hurt you!”, I said and went inside my own room. His coughing laughter behind me.

°Is there a reason for your hardassness towards him?°, asked Kura-chan with interest.

°Not really, I don't have anything against him, I even think of saving him from Gaara. It's just that I am kinda a brother to Yuugao-nee and a brother has to intimidate his sisters dates°, I explained with a mental shrug.

°Men°, sighed Kura-chan in amusement.

Half an hour later came Yuugao-nee in and sat on the bed next to me.

“Hayate told me that there are some issues between him and you, is there a problem?”, she asked with concern.

“Not really, it's just that I would hardly be a good brother if I would allow him to do whatever he wants with you”, I replied while continuing to read.

She laughed happily and ruffled my hair and then smiled fondly at me; “Dex-kun, I'm already a big girl, I can take care of my own”, she then said and gave me a hug before standing up.

“I know, it's just that you're one of the few people I really like, and no one is allowed to hurt those I like. I won't allow something like what happened to Rufus to repeat itself”, I said resolutely and she ruffled my hair again, this time more affectionately than the previous playful one.

“He won't do anything, and even if, I still have my brother doesn't I?”. She gave me another hug and then left the house with Hayate in tow.

°Let's go through the things we have to take care of during the exams°, I said after a long pause and Kura-chan and I went over all the things we wanted to do, or had to prevent.

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

Yuugao's POV;

“Are you sure he hasn't something against me?”, asked Hayate for the fifth time now. We were on our way to the restaurant and he is really concerned with how Dexter is around him.

I don't take it against Dexter, he does not have a lot of friends and I'm one of his few preciousness people. For him, it must look like Hayate is taking me away. Silly thinking, but understandable nonetheless. He only has Lee, TenTen, and Anko as friends. Even if it is not reassuring that the last is one of his friends. Anko isn't someone you let near children. Strangely she has taken a liking to him and Dexter seems to like her as well. My only friend, he isn't good around is Kurenai, he says she feels wrong. Sure, Kurenai wears a lot of make-up, but I wouldn't say that she is wrong.

“Yes Hayate, he does not have anything against you. It's just his way to manage my relationship with you. You have to understand that Dexter has not many friends. I am the only constant since I took him in. He surely thinks that you are taking me away from him”, I explained and linked my arm with his.

“But that is not true”, he said in defiance.

“You are right, but Dexter is still a child, even if he's a genius. He sees you as someone that might hurt me and as such is a threat. He will calm down once he sees that you won't mean me harm”, I said and kissed him briefly to get him away from his thoughts.

“I hope so”, he relented and we moved on, today is going to be a good night. I don't want to use Mr. Pink again. Mama has her own needs.