The next day was hectic, as team 5 waited for Genma-sensei at the edge of their old training ground, Training Ground seven. It was obvious that the training ground was used haphazardly, and the old wooden posts were beaten in, Lee's potential handiwork. Genma hadn't arrived yet, but he was only twenty minutes late, and it wasn't like he was late all the time.

Just as they thought that, the man arrived from the top of the trees and landed with an easy dismount. He laughed as Naruto started asking why he was late, that they were worried.

Finally catching their attention, Genma smirked. "It's good to have my team back together, the past year has proven that you are all excellent at your field, and now I have no reason but to tell you that you are entered into the Chuunin Examination coming in four months time. For the next three days, I'll be holding extensive training for each of you, so we can see what progress we've all made on our scrolls, and to get you back into the spirit of working as a team.

I'm changing things up a bit, Nushi, for the next four months, you'll be the new team commander, and you'll lead the team in the second round of the Exams, Kimourii. Naruto, I'll leave the teaching of jutsu to you, since I remember you worked so well together the first time. Now, for the next three days, I have scenarios set up in the forest that will test your team skills. There is a distinct possibility that one or more of you will advance to Chuunin and, if that is the case, the structure for the team will change drastically.

Let's get started, here is your scenario for today, and possibility, tomorrow too. If you finish this one at all, you'll have a new one come the end of the third day. If not, we'll have to run more exercises.

I'll see you tomorrow everyone.

He disappeared a second later and in his place a scroll. Nushi looked at the team and walked over, going through a set of hand seals meant to make sure there weren't any unsavory aspects on the scroll.

Team Five Training Scenario #1"
Seven days ago a team of a jounin and three genin were sent out on a mission to another country, because the team felt that they were ready for a C-rank mission. Along the way, the team met with heavy resistance and unsavory weather. The mission was an information retrieval mission, and was expected to last for sixteen days as they came back from the heavily condensed Snow Country.

Resistance forces are as follows: 5 genin, 25 Chuunin and 10 jounin were spotted attacking the convoy which held the information; the allied informant has been dead.

The team also has bloodline abilities in exactly fifteen percent of the resistance. The abilities of these bloodlines are like the Hyuuga Bloodline, Uchiha bloodline and Uzumaki bloodlines in that they are doujutsu that do similar, but cannot be identified as such. You are to find which has the bloodlines, and which do not. Enact this scenario using henge'd Kage Bunshin on training ground 307, the Snowy area. Your objective is to get to the Konoha streets without getting caught.

Have fun! Genma-sensei.

Naruto groaned as she finished reading and said, "hai, Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

The Kage Bunshin formed around him and Naruto looked at Nushi. She explained the situation to them and said, "don't treat us easily, we are training."

The Kage Bunshin nodded and all went off to plan. Naruto sighed and said, "alright, I'll tell them when to start the scenario when we get to training ground 307. What do we do then?"

Kimourii, who had listened the entire time said, "it seems fairly obvious to me, guys. We play counter divide and conquer with them. We make an equal amount of Kage Bunshin each and, at one time, run off; hopefully we will distract one and can take them out easily. I've been training with a weapon's mistress for the past three months, I have a pretty good idea how we can do that, if you'll listen?"

Naruto nodded and looked at Nushi. The girl smiled and said, "alright, enlighten us?"

"What do we know about the bloodlines? Well, let's start with Naruto's here; it's used in conjunction with the Shunshin no Jutsu, so that means that it lets him see faster than normal. The Uchiha bloodline lets them see chakra, and the Uchiha bloodline lets someone copy hand seals, right?"

Nushi grinned and agreed till Naruto said, "no, that's not right, that's my Otousan bloodline, my kaasan's bloodline lets me see Chakra like the Hyuuga and let's me copy the way Chakra flows but not the hand seals, remember?"

She nodded, "sorry, I did forget you had two doujutsu Naruto. So, we are dealing with three strong doujutsu, and then about thirty-four other people then?"

Nushi nodded, "yeah, so while I think it's a good idea, we'll need a way to get the bloodlines copied, and find out which person is where. We'll also need a way to cover our tracks, with Sutermaru with us as well, what do you think Naruto?"

Naruto's face crunched up. "Well, it's a retrieval mission so; we'll need to disguise ourselves. Think we need to use the Animal Change jutsu?"

The girls nodded, "puppies, it'll be easier to blend as puppies following their kaasan's than other animals in a group."

Naruto nodded, "hai, it will be easier."

And so, for the next three days, the students followed up on their mission, planning each step in advance. The Kage Bunshin was doing their parts wonderfully, they knew where Naruto was at all times, but ignored them unless it was obvious they were doing something that gave them away.

In that time, they had found the Kage Bunshin that were acting as they had doujutsu, and wrote them down.

Things changed however, one early morning on the final day of traveling. They were being tracked by a group of jounin from Konoha, who had intercepted the Kage Bunshin, a Hyuuga, and two kunoichi were tracking the group. Thinking that it would be fun to aggravate the genin group, they attacked. It wasn't until the last minute that they realized the genin were actually from Konoha, and by the end of the battle they were all hurt, with broken bones.

The leader, a Hyuuga named Hinoto, was looking nervously at his friends. Hyuuga Hiashi was not going to be happy.

They picked the genin up and ran to the village, and dropped the group at the hospital before making themselves scarce, never realizing that the Hokage had watched their training the entire time and knew which ones were at fault.

Three days later, Naruto was up, and fully prepared for whatever his sensei wanted them to do today. His teammates weren't up though, and it was said they'd be like this for a month. Genma had been back by the hospital several times, while the three were found guilty of attacking genin and would be held accountable for their crimes, including a demotion back to Chuunin with no chance for promotion for six years.

He was sitting up beside Kimourii's bed; he had just finished visiting Nushi, and Sutermaru, when Genma walked in.

"Naruto, we have a two-person mission to leave on. I don't want to leave, but it should be over by the time the others wake up. That's a month, we need to travel to the Rock Country and see what teams are participating in the Chuunin Exam, how many, and when they are going to leave. This may turn into an escort mission; teams come about three months early so they can train on our training grounds, as we do with other promotions. If you had tried in the Chuunin Exams last year, you would have gone to Iwagakure, but as a genin and the legacy of the fourth, the Hokage didn't think that was too smart.

We both believe you are ready to go into this village because you do know the Shunshin no Jutsu, but you also know your mothers jutsu. We leave in the morning following your debriefing from the Hokage. Take your checkbook with you, in case we need it, you have more than I do with you recent acquisition in the Village of Waterfall. So, you'll be bankrolling this mission for us."

Naruto nodded and said, "Arigato Genma-sensei, for coming to tell me. I was going to stay here tonight and make sure Kimourii-chan and Nushi-chan were alright, but with the mission, I'll go home immediately and get ready."

And then, doing something completely oblivious, and out of character, Naruto kissed Kimourii on the cheek and said, "Get well Kimourii-chan."

As they left the room, the blush that Kimourii had been fighting off came in full force onto her face.

They met at the Western gate of the village, where Genma said would be the easiest to go to Iwagakure. "Good morning Naruto."

"Good morning sensei! Are we leaving now?"

The man nodded and said, "Hai, however I need to tell you something Naruto. You are not to use any of the fourth's techniques while we are in the Iwa's Village, because that could cause problems that the Hidden Villages cannot afford. This is a direct order from the Hokage."

Naruto nodded, he wasn't stupid after all. He knew that his father had slaughtered thousands with the Shunshin no Jutsu and that there was a bounty on the head of the last Kazama.

As they walked out of the room, Genma said, "Now, Naruto, I think that the best way to do this is to get all of your training done before we make it to Rock Country, because they'll be looking for any open hostility towards us. If that is the case, I want to know what you can do, and what you cannot do.

Are you prepared to go on this mission, knowing what is at stake?"

Naruto smiled, "hai, Genma-sensei. If I did not go on this mission, than I would be a bad shinobi, refusing a mission assigned by the Hokage is something that you should never do, especially when you want to become Hokage yourself one day."

The man smiled. "You're right. We'll sleep come nightfall, Naruto. Until then, I have something I want you to practice. It's called Blade of Shadows Scorching. It's a fire-shadow (Hokage) move and is a drain on your chakra. But, it is a lasting jutsu, which means that it lasts until you dispel the chakra that you put into it. The first few times you use it, you'll be drained, and the jutsu will fail. But after you get used to it, you can literally keep it running until either you run out of Chakra or, in the case of the Hyuuga, your tenketsu are blocked off.

The seals are simple, monkey, dragon, rat, bird, ox, dog, tora, and the jutsu name. After that, it's a matter of knowing how to swordplay. Also, don't try this until you are about to fall asleep, Naruto, just go through the hand seals, and memorize them. This will help you in several ways, the first of which includes you learning a technique of jounin level.

Alright, go ahead."

Naruto nodded and started going through the hand seals, pausing when he'd slip, or to correct his stance.

"Alright, now, try mixing a bit of chakra in the seals. Do you remember the leaf concentration technique from the Ninja Academy? Use that technique and try to decide how much Chakra you will need to put into the technique. This will be your secret weapon during the Chuunin Exams, Naruto. I want you to keep this technique hidden, it is my only original technique, and I would be honored if you learn it."

"Arigato, Genma-sensei.

The man smiled and, as he realized that Naruto was indeed trying, smiled. His genin was one that made him proud to have taken on a team. "Naruto, you do realize that after we get back to Konoha that I'm going to have to leave you to train Kimourii and Nushi, right. Will you be able to find someone to train with?"

"Hai, I know sensei. This mission was supposed to be team related, but with what happened with Kimourii-chan and Nushi-chan, it turned into a two-person team, hai?"

"Hai, the baka-Chuunin that did this to my team better be punished, too. Are you ready for the exam, though?"

"Hai! Sensei, I am ready for the exam. I will make you proud, sensei!"

The man smiled. "Just do your best, Naruto. You're one of the best genin in the village, and with your hijutsu, which can't be copied; you're one of the few that could possibly beat the Uchiha or, in his case, Kakashi, when you're older."

Naruto shrugged.

And, so it was the hours passed. At night, he'd put Chakra into the Blade, and during the day he'd practice the seals. Finally, on the seventh day, they arrived at the gates of the Iwagakure.

"Halt, who approaches?"

"Shurenai Genma and Uzumaki Naruto, representatives of Konoha about the approaching Chuunin Examination."

"Rank?" the gatekeeper asked, daring them to refuse to answer.

"I'm a Jounin and this is my genin student, he'll also be competing in the exam with his team. He's been a genin for a year and three months now."

The man looked Naruto up and down and said, "Hai, you may enter. The tsuchikage tower is located several blocks away. Thank you for your interest in our village. Will you need an escort, Konoha-nin?"

"No, Arigato. We will just head to the tsuchikage's tower, and ask about his plans."

The guards nodded and allowed them to walk through, after telling them that it'd be best of the hitai-ate of Konoha was very well known, and hated, and that for their sake, the nin should take them off. Genma shook his head as Naruto made to do so and said, "Never be ashamed of your hitai-ate, Naruto. It tells you where you are from, or where you're going. Nuke-nin still wear their hitai-ate, as a status of who they're betraying exactly.

He was trying to get you to remove your hitai-ate, so he could say something about how he scared the Chibi-genin, or something like that."

Naruto blushed and said, "Gomen, Genma-sensei. I did not realize."

The man smiled and shrugged.

Soon, though, the stares started. Stares that the Jounin did not appreciate. It was as if the citizens did not dare forgive the Konoha-nin for what happened almost thirty-five years ago, with the war.

"Is it always like this when Konoha comes here, Sensei?"

"Hai, but they don't ever attack, because we're dignitaries of the village, they throw us the hate-filled gazes, and try to make us break, but other than that, we aren't harmed. Though, I'm surprised to see the gazes not affecting you, Naruto."

Naruto's face did something then that Genma had never seen. It turned into a scowl. "When you grow up, for the first five years of your life, seeing the gazes that they're giving you, you aren't affected by them, Sensei. The citizens of Konoha still give me the gazes, when I'm not looking, or when Sarutobi-sensei doesn't see, because of my birthday. If I hadn't been acknowledged, sensei, the gazes would have made me like Gaara-teme. And, because of that, the gazes don't scare me; they piss me off, dattebayo."

The man was shocked. "I've never noticed they still give you the looks, Naruto."

He shrugged, "you won't, sensei. They've learned by now to be aware because I'm a shinobi now. They know that I've got other Shinobi who won't understand, and are afraid to show them to anyone else.

Sarutobi-sensei asked me one time why I care about becoming Hokage so much, and I told him that, if I didn't become Hokage, that I couldn't show those baka-teme's who I really am. And, sensei, I do have someone ready to train me, remember?"

The man nodded, "I had forgotten, in my worry, gomen-nasai, Naruto."

And, it was then, they arrived. The Tsuchikage tower wasn't as extravagant as the Hokage Tower in Konoha, but it bore of history. Battle scars from days gone past and freshly painted sections told of the Iwa-nin's history, and their belief in their way of life.

Genma took a moment to recognize those that had given their lives to protect this, some at the hands of the fourth, and others through their own stupidity.

"Alright, let's go."

And, so they went.

The door was unguarded, so they opened it, only to see a room full of guards. Genma told Naruto to lift his hands and walk toward the center of the room, a sign of peace to the village. Naruto did so and they were immediately set upon by the guards. "Why have you come here" they asked.

"We are here on orders of Hokage-sama, to inquire about the entrants of the Chuunin Exam being held in Konoha."

"Name, rank?"

Shurenai Genma, Jounin and Uzumaki Naruto, genin. He'll be participating in the exam, and I thought that he'd like the oppurtunity to come to one of the villages that may be participating while his team is recovering from an attack by some baka-shinobi of our own village."

The man looked at Naruto as if sizing him up. "Alright, I can accept that. What is his record?"

The man smiled, "Twenty-five D-rank and two C-rank missions."

"And yours?"

Genma smiled, "fifty D-rank, seven C-rank, thirteen B-ranks, forty A-ranks and six S-ranks."

The Iwa-shinobi with the sword at his back said, "How long have you been a genin?"

Naruto said, "A year and three months."

"Alright, so you're not from the rumored rookie nine then?" The man asked. Naruto was puzzled before Genma laughed. "So, it's true then? I knew Asuma was going to enter his, but Kurenai? I thought she had more sense. It's a fact that Kakashi doesn't have any, all he cares about is his hentai books."

They nodded, "alright. And the last question, do you have any jutsu you can do with less than one seal, other than the standard three?"

Naruto looked at Genma-sensei, and the man said, "Hai, he does. He's been ordered not to talk about that fact, however as this is a peaceful mission, I can answer in his steed."

"Then, respectfully, I have to ask that you wear a rope around your wrists that will keep you from doing any seals."

Naruto looked at Genma, asking what the hell he was supposed to do now. The man nodded and Naruto held out his hands as the man said, "Alright. And you, too, Genma?"

Genma simply held out his hands and with that, they were lead into the Tsuchikage's office.

The man, who you could feel the power rolling off of in waves, looked at them with a hidden hatred. "So, you are the Shinobi from Konoha? Funny, I thought that Sarutobi would never send the son of the Fourth here."

Naruto paled, and Genma stiffened. "Did you really think that the "Uzumaki" line would work here? He looks exactly like his father. But, you do not punish a man for the sins of his father, as my Otousan has said. What do you want?"

Naruto blushed.

"We are here to inquire about the participants that your village will enter into the Chuunin Exams, and if you'll need an escort to the village."

"We've made it a policy not to go to the Village hidden in the leaves, as you well know; hatred for the last of the Kazama is well known. What's stopping me from killing you both now?"

Naruto bristled but kept his mouth shut. "The fact that this missive came from the Hokage as a peacekeeping missive. Hokage-sama didn't want Naruto's identity known because of his parentage, but also to see how Naruto can handle situations where he is immediately hated. It was my suggestion to go with his Kaasan's last name until we get home and not say anything about it, because we didn't want to start a Shinobi war.

The Tsuchikage nodded, "alright, I'm just going over those plans now, I'll notify you tomorrow how many teams are going, and whether or not we'll require an early escort. If we do, however, can we trust you to escort them fairly, and not allow personal grudges that your genin could possibly hold?"

"Tsuchikage-san, I never met my Otousan, so if it makes you feel better, I can honestly say that I feel no hostility towards anyone in this village."

The man looked at him and said, "I truly wish I could say the same thing, however you will find that the memories of the past burn this village like nothing ever seen before."

"Tsuchikage-san, Naruto has worked very hard to get the respect that he's earned from the village. In fact, until he became a genin he didn't know the full family history that his lineage carries. But, the Hokage has assured me that Naruto is ready for a mission as fragile as this one could possibly be which is why he has assigned a B-rank to the success.

That, if nothing else, should let you know how much the Hokage wants this mission to be successful."

The man nodded, "hai, alright. I agree that what you're saying is sincere. Hoshi!"

The guard came in. "You may release them, you do not treat representatives of a country this way. Make sure the villagers know that also. And, if I'm not mistaken, you owe Uzumaki-san many thanks for what he did to that Jinchuuriki of the Sand, Gaara."

The man nodded and looked, realizing that the gaki before him was the same guy that beat Gaara up almost two weeks ago. "I apologize, Uzumaki-san, I did not recognize you. It is an honor to see you, again, after so long. You are but a Genin, as is Sabaku no Gaara, correct?"

Naruto nodded and the man said, "Alright. Shall I find them refuge Tsuchikage-sama?"

"Hai, find them a place of rest for tonight, and tomorrow try to get them here, they're the escort to Konoha for the Chuunin Exams, an open invitation from the Hokage himself. I'm not fool enough to pass that oppurtunity up."

The jounin nodded and said, "Uzumaki-san, Shurenai-san, please follow me."

The two nodded.

"Ah, welcome!" The Tsuchikage announced as the duo from Konoha entered the room. "I'm very gracious to Konoha allowing for a personal escort to your village. It is a very good gesture of goodwill on the Hokage's part to risk the last of the Kazama line on a mission where we could have very well attacked. Arigato!"

Genma nodded and Naruto fought with all his might to keep the blush off of his face that he knew was there.

"These are the three teams that will be accompanying you back to Konoha. I'm sure they'll have time to introduce themselves to you on the way, but I'm sure you'll need to know at least which Jounin are going, am I correct."

"Hai, Tsuchikage-san. I'm sure that the genin can wait until they are registered, so no unruly attacks from other villages come, and you have our assurances that while they are in Konoha that we will try our best to keep unsavory things from happening."

The man nodded, "I do have one question?"

"Hai?"

"What are the rumors I have heard about Orochimaru about?"

The man sighed, "The ones about him planning an attack on Konoha during the examinations? I do not know, but I have heard the same, and you can be assured that Hokage-sama is doing all he can to protect the village, dignitaries and citizens."

The man smiled, "I will be coming to the third round examinations, and if you could account for some passage security to arrive I would appreciate it. The leaders of the group will be Jounin Masurao Yochi, Kokoro Kasai, and Hitokage Asuma. How long will it take to get to Konoha?"

Genma said, "In the best conditions, a week, and in the worst, two. The best if it's travel weather and the worst if it's rainy or similar."

The man nodded, "hai, alright, you're welcome to stay until tomorrow, when they will be ready to leave. You have the village at your disposal until that time; please enjoy your time here."

Genma bowed and Naruto did the same, just in case he was supposed.

They left the room, both with the feeling that there were some ulterior motives being played. "Well, we've been given permission to explore the city, and we need to stock on supplies while we're here. And, I've heard that the city has some heavier weights than you're using here, for body suits. Seeing as you've already adjusted, let's see if you can get another two hundred pounds on you today."

Naruto said, "ano, sensei, won't that hinder the travel back to Konoha?"

The man shook his head, "no, because I've been checking on your scroll, Naruto, and I've devised a new training regiment for you, as you've already filled out your scroll for many areas. You still need improvement in Genjutsu, but your taijutsu and ninjutsu are both completely filled. So, I'm going to see if we can't get you training in more areas. So, I'm going to see if we can get you some scrolls while here.

Ah, I believe this is a weapons shop."

And it was. They walked in and the man behind the counter stood. "Ah, you're from Konoha?"

They nodded. "Well, I don't know what all I can do for you, not being from here, and all, but I'm not a native myself, so I'll try to do right. What can I do?"

Genma said, "arigato, my student needs to get about two hundred pounds of weights in his suit."

The man nodded, "and, how much do you have on you now?"

Naruto looked at his sensei and said, "Ano, about five hundred and fifty pounds?"

Genma swore under his breath as the kid said that. "When did you go up to that amount, Naruto?"

Naruto grinned and rubbed his nose. "Ano, sensei, after the fight with Gaara, I saw some new weights, and put them in the suit. It makes it much easier to run when I take the suit off. Ano SA, can you put more weights in weighted bracelets and anklets, Oyaji-san?"

The man nodded, "sure, and I'll even add in a sealed release function so you can simply use a ninjutsu technique to release the weights."

Naruto grinned and said, "Ano SA, can it be a variation of any technique or just one?"

'Well, if you use the technique like Bunshin no Jutsu, you could release it with the Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu, or Suna Bunshin no Jutsu, as long as you use the seals for the Bunshin no Jutsu, you'll be alright."

Naruto grinned. "Arigato, I'll take that too. Um, do you sell technique scrolls to travelers, I know some villages forbid it, but I'm not sure if this one does."

The man sighed, "You're right, and yes this village does forbid that, so I can't sell you any jutsu scrolls, however, I can sell the weapons made in the Iwa-village. These are kunai and shuriken made from the Iwa-'s strongest metal. They take more precision to throw, but are more deadly than any out there. I can sell you three set of each, at the maximum.

Naruto looked at his sensei, who nodded that it was alright. "And, he'll also need a new set of cover clothing, he's just been returned from a long term mission, and hasn't bought a new set of clothing in a while; while you're at it, just buy a new weighted suit, Naruto. I'll be better than using a suit that can only carry eight hundred pounds on it. Am I right?"

"Hai, you know your stuff. Alright, I've only got basic colors for the weighted suit, green, gray and black. The green is like your suit, made to hold eight hundred pounds. The gray suit is made to hold a thousand, and the black is made to hold fifteen hundred pounds, though only Jounin are allowed to buy that suit. I can sell the gray to you for six thousand ryuu, and the weights for three thousand ryuu. Also, the weapons are five thousand ryuu. The seal release anklets are available for the same amount that the suits are. They come in matching color, and I can take any that you have now, or you can continue to use them until you need to switch?"

Naruto looked at the objects and down at the own he'd bought in Konoha. "Ano SA, I got these in Konoha, could they be made to work just the same."

The man looked at the pale green model and said, "They're the same model, this is made to hold less weight, though. I'll trade you in these for a black, and you can pay the difference, which will be a thousand ryuu."

Genma smiled, "excellent, and I'll take the same order except with a black weighted suit with full weights attached."

After settling the bill, and exchanging a check for the cash, the man laughed and walked to the bank while the shinobi found a Ramen stand to eat at.

Naruto hated mornings, hated getting out of bed because that would mean another day of walking. And, with the new set of weights that he had on, Naruto doubly hated walking. After doing a warm-up stretch, Naruto left the room, after attaching his backpack to his suit.

"Ah, Naruto-kun, are you ready?"

Naruto nodded. "Hai sensei, I am ready."

The man smiled and walked out the door. He felt the gazes stretched at himself and his student, and sighed, remembering Naruto's words. They arrived at the assigned gate and found the jounin waiting with their three teams, twelve foreign shinobi being escorted by a jounin and genin.

"Until we get out of Rock Country, I'll be leading, Genma-san. This is precautionary, in case any returning iwa-shinboi decides to attack your fourth's legacy. When we reach Fire Country, I will relinquish command to you for the duration of our travel, and we will hope for safe passage."

"Arigato Masurao Yochi-san. I can only pray that the travel to Konoha is a safe one, and that once we reach the village that you all will take great advantage of our training fields, and get to know our terrain."

The man laughed, "If I didn't know any better that was an invitation to spar with you, Shuranui Genma."

Genma smiled, "it was. I've never spared against an opponent of the Iwa-, and I would find it a great honor."

"Hai," Kokoro Kasai said, "we would like to spar with you once we reach Konoha, but it would be even more exciting if it could be genin against genin and Jounin against Jounin in a friendly competition. Our genin teams versus yours and two others of course."

Naruto tugged on Genma's sleeve. "Gomen jounin-sama's, ano SA, isn't that what the Chuunin Exams are for?"

The men in the group frowned. "You're telling me the Hokage didn't tell you, Legacy?"

Naruto flinched but shook his head. "No, Sarutobi-sensei has not told me why the Chuunin Exams are important, but I do know that genin come from all over, so I assumed it was a genin competition?"

"Oh, it is, but not in the sense that we're talking, Naruto. We're talking about a spar, in the sense that, instead of sparing with members of our own village, and remembering all their moves, we'll face the Iwa-'s shinobi in friendly competition."

Naruto nodded, his arms crossed. "Hai, but in what areas? Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, or Genjutsu?"

The Iwa-shinobi smirked, "We were thinking more along the lines of Hijutsu."

Genma looked at the man and said, "Hijutsu, bloodline jutsu?"

The man nodded. "Hai, the genin on this team all have a bloodline limit, and are anxious to try them against the best bloodline limit in Konoha, the Hyuuga Clan, and of course your fabled Sharingan."

"Or, our Aburame, Haruno, Nara, or even Naruto's own bloodline, correct?"

The man grinned, "Hai, we would especially like to see how well the legacy of your fourth has accomplished in his bloodline."

Naruto smiled, "yes, but I promised Sarutobi-sensei that I would not use the bloodline against you."

The man nodded, "hai, I understand that. Alright, are any training fields off limits that we need to know about?"

The man said, "Hai, but the Hokage will explain which one and why it is off limit to the jounin instructors when we get to Konoha. Are your genin ready for the examination?"

"Ano SA, we are ready, Konoha-nin-sama. We are last years genin class, and very anxious in facing genin from other countries."

Everyone was looking anxious as they passed the border, where a group of traveling genin and a jounin all bearing the hitai-ate of Konoha were walking along. They walked up to it, and noticed a long haired boy, a very heavyweight guy eating chips, a blond haired girl and a smoking guy that looked like the Hokage all watching for intruders to Konoha.

"Asuma, border patrol?" Genma asked as the long haired boy walked towards them, a look of discontent on his face. The smoking man laughed, "yes, Genma. I assume you are the representatives of the Iwa-which our young friends are escorting? Welcome to Fire Country. I am Sarutobi Asuma, and these are my genin team, Nara Shikamaru, Akamichi Chouji, and Yamanaka Ino. And you must be Naruto-kun. My father has told me many things about you, Naruto.

Genma, we just got a message from Wave Country. Gai and his team are being sent out to assist Kakashi, and they took Kimourii and Nushi. It's bad out there. That's why we're here. The Hokage insists that you and Naruto-kun meet up with Gai. Something about Mizugakure no Zabuza."

"NANI! Zabuza!" Genma asked. "How far ahead are they?"

"They are about a half-day ahead. You're only a half-day from Konoha, so if you don't mine, Iwa-nin, my team and I will escort you to the Hokage's tower, while these two catch up. Naruto, Hokage-sama wants you to use that technique."

Naruto nodded and bit his finger, "Koukaku. Gomen-nasai. Sensei?"

The man nodded and climbed on Naruto's back. Making the seals, Naruto bowed and said, "Ja ne... Shunshin no Jutsu!"

The Iwa-nin gasped and nearly attacked before they realized that it was a dangerous situation. "So, he wasn't kidding about being the son of Kazama Arashi? I though he was joking" Asuma grumbled. "Figure's dad would do that. Anyway, we are sorry about that, Naruto was under orders not to display that unless it was an emergency. But, one of our genin teams was attacked by Zabuza of the Hidden Mist, and by all reports barely made it out. Considering the make of that team, it is a C-rank mission that they are taking."

The man nodded and asked who was on the team they were assisting.

Asuma laughed, "Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and Inuzuka Kiba, along with their instuctor Hatake Kakashi."

"Now I understand why Naruto used that first technique, in case of trees, is I right?" Hitokage Asuma asked, "oh, and I see the villages share a flare for great names. I am Hitokage Asuma."

Asuma laughed, "I am Sarutobi Asuma, son of the third Hokage."

"We'll be there soon, Naruto, stop just as soon as I say."

Naruto nodded and with a cry of stop they stopped outside of a long bridge that was incomplete in the middle. "This bridge looks easily jumpable, Naruto, let's cross here."

End Chapter