Chapter 10

Exam Interlude

" Thinking "

"Flashback thoughts "

Naruto grinned happily as he walked through the gates of Konoha with the two chunin guards giving him a friendly wave as he walk past. Itachi and Anko walked beside him while Mikoto was behind them all happy to be home.

The two days they had off after the second exam was a welcome put stop for the trio since walking in the hot desert of Suna for three days had taken its toll on them.

After the entire five days were up, they were reported to the Kazekage office where they saw that to their surprise only two other teams had made it. The 3 only of Kumo was a team from Kumo.

The Kazekage was a man in his mid-thirties with dark plum red hair with tanned skin and brown eyes. Around his eyes he had dark rings around them like he had not had enough sleep and wore the traditional Kage robes.

As he congratulated them he told them all about the purpose of the Chunin Exams and that they were used as a deterrent of war so that it can help build better relationships between the shinobi villages of the world.

Afterwards they each had to pick a number in order to figure out who would fight who in the match ups. It was decided that since there were nine of them; the first three matches would be single matches while the fourth would be a triple threat match.

Naruto ended up picking number 8, Anko got 1 while Itachi got 4. When they revealed what numbers they all got, Naruto found out the names of everyone in the match while also saw who his opponent would be in the first match. Or in Naruto's case who his first two opponents would be.

Though he noticed that when he looked over at the Iwa team the girl from the first test was staring at him. At first it looked like a confused frown as if she was trying to figure something out before she scowled a little and looked away.

He decided that girls were just too weird for him to understand.

"Okay everyone." Mikoto said stopping them. "I'm going to go see the Hokage and tell him we're back. The rest of you can head on home and get some well-deserved rest. Though I expect you all to be training for the next portion of the exams." She said as the three nodded.

"Now since I am Itachi's mother as well as sensei I am going to be able to help him every day get prepared for the exams in a month's time. That won't mean I will leave any of you out though. If you want my help just come to Uchiha Clan compound and I will help."

"Thanks sensei, but I think I might get a few of the older jonin to help. Kurenai-san said she would help me if I got past the first two exams as did Ibiki. I might ask them for some help." She said as Mikoto nodded before looking at Naruto

"I might ask jiji, Nee-Chan Mana and Baa-chan to help me prepare."

Mikoto nodded again but reminded them to come get her if they needed help since she wanted to help all her students equally, which both Naruto and Anko thanked her for. The group departed and Naruto made his way back to his home.

When he arrived home he found it rather more silent then usual and wondered where everyone was until he tried to sense them. To his surprise he sensed Kushina and his siblings all outside in the backyard.

When he walked out he stopped right in his spot and felt a bang of hurt in his heart at the scene in front of him.

There was Kushina holding a kunai in her hand and was showing Naruko and Mito how to properly hold and throw one at a wooden post. Both were using wooden kunai since they were too young to use the metal ones at the moment.

"She's.....teaching them." He thought as his hands shook a little from the scene but quickly shook himself out of it when little Mina who was chasing a butterfly spotted him and let out a happy gurgle as she began making her way over to him.

"Naru!" She said as Naruto eyes softened and bent down to hug her a little and nuzzled her little nose with his own.

"Hi Mina-chan, have you been a good girl?" He asked as Mina happily nodded before giggling madly as she began playing with Naruto's blonde hair.

Despite him not being around much, those around them could see how much Mina adored her eldest brother and was always following after him when she could; though her little legs could not take her very far.

Even though he was distancing himself from his family, there was just a little part of him that could not bear distancing himself from Mina. Plus she had solidified her spot in his heart when her first word was his name much to everyone's surprise.

"Naru-nii!" Naruto heard as the footsteps belonging to a small child were rapidly coming towards him. He looked to the side and braced himself as a blur of blonde with a few red streaks in it jumped into him and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you sooooo much." Mito said as she gave Naruto a big sloppy kiss on the cheek making Naruto hesitate a little before plating a small kiss on the top of her head.

Naruko quickly followed after his sister and hugged his older brother around the waist while Kushina walked up to him at a slow pace.

"Welcome home Naru-chan. Well done for getting into the third part of the exam." She commented as she took Mina from Naruto much to the little girl's dismay.

"Yeah, urm thanks Kaa-chan. I'm just lucky to have a great sensei and teammates." He said as Kushina nodded a little.

"Really, Mikoto-baka is a good sensei? Who knew?" She said teasingly about her friend though stopped when she saw Naruto give her a small glare.

"Don't speak about Mikoto sensei that way Kaa-san. She has done her best and I am forever grateful to be under her tutelage." He said sternly before rubbing his eyes a little and turned around to head back inside.

"I'm going to bed. I'm a little tired from the trip."

Kushina didn't reply but looked at Naruto head back inside with a slightly struck look on her face. "Naru-chan has never glared at me before." She thought before shaking her head. "He's just tired and needs his rest."

She turned around to see her children with slightly sad looks on their faces as Naruto walked away before the twins went back to their wooden kunai practice and Mina went back to chasing butterflies

If she had paid more attention she would have noticed Naruto use san instead of chan like he normally did.

Later on that evening Naruto lay in his bed as he looked up at the ceiling as the light from the moon gently shone through the curtains of his window.

He had stayed in his room to rest for most of the day and only really went down when his father came home and they had dinner round the table.

Most of the dinner talk was taken up by Mito and Naruko who were talking about their day with Kushina while Mina was either gazing into space or was laughing at the funny faces Naruto was making at her.

When it got to Naruto and the chunin exams, he only gave them short answers and didn't get into the details since he was not really in the mood for talking. Both Minato and Kushina frowned a little at that and wanted him to tell them more; however he just stayed mostly quiet, ignoring them when they asked for more details.

Afterwards he took his dish and cutlery and had them washed before he went back to his room.

He was going to visit Hiruzen tomorrow to get some training in for the chunin exams third round and hoped Tsunade, Mana and Shizune would join them as well since he knew there was talk about showing him the which he was looking forward to.

He looked at his alarm clock to see it was 11pm. He was about to shut his eyes before he heard his door open up slightly and could hear little steps coming towards the bed.

He sat up and saw little Mina walking towards him wearing her little purple pajama's while holding her teddy in her arms.

"Mina-chan what are you doing in here? It's late and you should be in bed." He said as he saw her rub her eyes with her tiny hands before she looked at him and put her arms out.

"Stay with Naru." She said making him hesitate a little before he let it be. He smiled and went forward and picked his baby sister up.

He lifted the covers and put himself and Mina under them with Naruto leaning on his side while Mina was snuggled up next to him. Mina snuggled into her big brothers chest as Naruto wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm and safe.

"Lub you Naru." She said yawning before she immediate fell asleep.

Naruto looked down at his baby sister and gently kissed her forehead. "Good night Mina-chan. Sweet dreams."

Just when Naruto fell asleep Kushina past his door to see that it was slightly open. When she took a peak in her face softened and had a warm smile appear on her face when she saw her youngest cuddled up with her oldest.

She tiptoed back before gently and silently closing the bedroom door and made her way to hers and Minato's room.

I am impressed Naruto. You and you team sound like you had quite the experience for your chunin exams. And you finish the second round in three of the five days is an impressive feat." Hiruzen said as Naruto finished recounting the first two rounds to Hiruzen, Tsunade, Mana and Shizune who had welcomed him back and told him well done for his efforts in the chunin exams and for making the third round.

"Now what do you know about your two opponents?"

"Well that's just it. I don't really know anything about them. I can only make guesses by their size and personalities. We did not have any chance to see any of each other's abilities."

"Hmm." Tsunade pondered as she thought about it. "You said one was called Omoi from Kumo and the other was called C who was from Kumo. How big would you say they were?"

" "Very big, bigger than other kids my age." He said making them all nod.

"In that case I can bet they will favor their physical strength and will end up lacking in speed. We can work on your speed and make you faster than ever. Plus I will be drilling you into Taijutsu every day until you can stand anymore." She said grinning making Naruto grin back.

"Plus I bet this both boy from Kumo will favor lightning jutsu's for the same reason." Shizune added with Tsunade, Mana and Hiruzen nodding at the logic behind it.

"So we work on his speed along with teaching him jutsu to counter Lightning. Wind we can do. And Naruto does know good Lighting affinity.

"Plus I can work on my Kenjutsu and fūinjutsu when I am on my own."

They all nodded and made a quickly plan of what the training schedule for him would be like for the next month until it was time for him to leave for Suna again. Shizune would train him in the mornings until 1. Then an hour break for lunch until Tsunade would get him until two to six. Then in the evening he could focus on his Kenjutsu and fūinjutsu. And Mana would train him with Lightning and Wind

"Where are you up to in your fūinjutsu?" Hiruzen asked.

Naruto grinned and got out a small book from the storage seal on his right wrist. "I'm in the middle of level five and at the moment jiji. I maybe have a couple of months, maybe a year at most until I am ready for level Seven." He said.

Hiruzen whistled showing he was impressed. He would be surprised if this time in the next decade Naruto was already at his parents level of fūinjutsu or maybe even higher above them.

"Now that we that covered we can let Naruto know of the new techniques we will be teaching him." Shizune said as Hiruzen and Tsunade nodded in agreement.

"Really? What techniques?" He asked a little excited at the thought of learning something new.

Shizune put her hand out and Naruto watched as a green aura wrapped around it making Naruto realize what it was.

"It's time we taught you how to heal yourself and others around you if the time ever comes. Since you have great control for your age no doubt you will be able to pick it up quickly; though we may have a way of cutting that time down greatly." Mana added as she motioned to Hiruzen; who then made the ram seal and created a clone next to him

"The clone technique? But I already know the clone technique."

"Ahh but this is not like the illusion clones." Hiruzen said as he tapped on the clones head showing it was solid. "These clones are very real but can be dispersed if we will it to or they are hit hard enough."

"Plus any memory or action they have or do will go straight back to the original. Normally we would not show this to you since it is a B rank jutsu that requires a lot of chakra, however since your chakra levels are already nearly the same size as Shizune and you have great chakra control, it means we can teach it to you early."

"So any of the jutsu I try and learn will be shortened because the clones will also learn it as well."

"I'm not surprised you figured it out. You are a smart cookie Naru-chan." Tsunade said. "But yes that is what we are aiming for. We will be able to teach you a lot in just a month if you make a few clones to learn it at the same time."

"So for new techniques Mana and Shizune nee-chan will teach me the and jiji will teach me the Then what are you going to teach me Baa-chan?"

When he asked Tsunade grinned while Shizune and Hiruzen looked a little panicked. No doubt they both knew what she was going to teach him.

"Are you sure you want to teach him that jutsu Tsunade? He might not be ready for it just yet." Hiruzen asked almost in a pleading tone but Tsunade waved it off.

"I have no doubt in my mind he will be able to learn it and master it to a degree in time for the chunin exams. Beside I have never taught this jutsu to anyone before and I think teaching it to Naru-chan would be the right thing to do."

Naruto looked a little confused since he was unsure of which technique Tsunade was talking about since she had a few techniques which she had never taught anyone, not even Shizune.

Motioning him to follow her, Naruto was led outside by Tsunade who had Hiruzen and Shizune following behind them both looking a little pale.

She stood in front of one of the Sarutobi clan training fields that the Sarutobi clan had, but Naruto swear he heard Hiruzen mumbling under his breath.

"This Naru-chan is what I will be teaching you. When people see you do this, they won't want to go anywhere near you."

Grinning to herself she raised her right fist high in the air for the three to see. Her right hand glowed bright blue and Naruto could see it getting denser before it suddenly disappeared around her hand.

"HUUUUAAHHHHH," Tsunade cried out as she brought her right fist down onto the ground and punched it with all her might.

As soon as her fist hit, the entire training field cracked and began burst in a big explosion making a big cloud of smoke and gravelly smoke to go through the area.

Naruto, Hiruzen and Shizune managed to use their chakra to keep them in one place since some damage had been done even from behind Tsunade while the entire training field had been completely leveled.

"Whoa..." Naruto said to himself. He had seen Tsunade use her super strength abilities many times, even in their spars together, but every time it made him look on in both amazement and a little bit of fear.

"Y-You're going to teach me that?" Naruto said in amazement as Tsunade turned around to face him and grinned at him.

"I am, but remember Naruto this technique of mine is very dangerous and therefore you must always be very careful since one false move and all that chakra you build up in your hand could be released to early or too late and will result in your hand being blown to pieces."

Naruto gulped.

"Also you must not teach another person this technique without my approval. The last thing I want are too many shinobi knowing my trademark technique and it somehow being used against us. Understand?" She asked a Naruto nodded his head.

Naruto grinned happily. The three older shinobi smiled at his eagerness but before they could push forward and begin the training an Anbu appeared.

"Tsunade-sama, Sandaime-sama, Mana-sama, Shizune-san, the Hokage has requested your presence in his office. He says it is of the up most importance."

The trio all looked in surprise and curiosity to what Minato was asking of them.

"We will be right there." Hiruzen answered as the Anbu disappeared.

"Well Naruto-chan you can stay here if you like and practice or you can head on home and we can begin tomorrow. We best go see what your father needs." Hiruzen told the young blonde.

"Okay Jiji, I'll see you all later." Naruto said as Shizune and Tsunade painted a kiss on his forehead each before they trio shunshined away.

Naruto stood there and watched them go before a thought crossed his mind and took this as a good chance to do something without his parents or anyone else knowing about.

'I think I'll head home. I have something I want to learn and surprise everyone with at the Chunin exams.' He thought to himself before grinning and running back home.

Tsunade, Mana, Hiruzen and Shizune arrived in the Hokage office and were surprised to see Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya and Kakashi all standing there talking amongst them before seeing the new group arrive.

"Ahh I am glad you are all here. Jiraiya here has important information for us which the three of you need to here." Minato said though they could see he had a happy smile plastered on his face.

Tsunade, Mana, Hiruzen and Shizune looked towards Jiraiya who looked a bit more serious then he normally did as Kakashi and Kushina stood of to the side.

"The prophecy from the toads have changed and I now know for certain whom it speaks of. The prophecy speaks of two children born from two powerful parents that reside in a leaf will stage a great revolution in our world and will lead us to an era of peace."

The three shot their eyebrows up again as Hiruzen spoke up. "I have an idea of who you mean, but I would like you to say it anyway."

"Mito and Naruko I know in my gut they are the children of prophecy. I am sure of it as are Minato, Kushina and Kakashi."

"Okay well that's all fine and dandy." Tsunade interrupted as she stood with her hands on her hips. "But why gather us all like this? Surely this is something you could have told us at a separate time."

"Since Naruko and Mito are the Children of Prophecy, we need them to be ready when the time is right. We know it early, but we think it is best to start their training early; to make them as strong as possible for when the times comes." Kushina said which shocked the four of them

What they didn't know that Naruto was listening to the whole thing "Kushina-sama don't you think five is a little young. I mean yes the three of us began training Naruto when he was five, but that was because of the Kyuubi attack. The twins won't have an incident like that during their youth I imagine."