Fox In The Leaf

Preparations for the Chunin exams

It had been three weeks since team seven had returned to Konoha and things haven't been the same since then. Kakashi has been the same smut reading sensei but he now has someone else that he has to look after. Kakashi had been tasked into watching Haku for the time being and after he has been deemed trustworthy, Haku will take the title of chunin based on his skills and kekkei genkai. Hiruzen had chosen to keep the kekkei genkai a secret, to avoid the civilian council trying to use him for breeding.

Sakura had been spending her time more with Haku than with Naruto or Sasuke, as well as getting training in using senbons and physical training. Sakura had been pushing herself harder than ever to become a better kunoichi but she secretly wanted to be ready for any enemy she may face whether they be from enemy shinobi…...or a teammate. She had been scared to be anywhere near Naruto, for fear of him lashing out at her and doing what he did to Gato, to her. She also enjoyed spending time with Haku who told her stories of his travels and the sights he has seen.

Haku had enjoyed spending time with Sakura as well, seeing her as a bright, intelligent and sweet girl. He had told her what had happened to him when he was a child and how he had to kill his father in self defense, when he found out about his Kekkei Genkai. Sakura sat there and didn't interrupt him with questions which he was grateful for. Once he finished his story he asked her what life was like in Konoha. The two enjoyed each other's company and grew close quickly.

Naruto had been pushing himself harder than ever, with the help from not only Hinata but also from Kurama, who decided to teach him how to use some of his bijuu abilities. Kurama had taught him that now that he was a five-tailed fox much like himself, Naruto should be have a much easier time using fire based jutsu and with enough practice in chakra manipulation he would be able to release a stream of fire without the use of hand signs. Not only did Kurama teach him how to release a stream of fire from his mouth, he was also taught how to manipulate his tails to make them extend in length or increasing their strength so he could hit harder with them. Naruto had ask Kurama if he had any jutsu to teach but unfortunately he never paid attention on how ningin used jutsu. One thing that he could get Kurama to teach him was the Bijuu-dama, which he learned about from Hiruzen when he asked about the battle between his father and the fourth hokage (he still doesn't know about Minato) but Kurama immediately said "NO" and even with all the whining, pleading and bribing (not much to bribe with though) he couldn't get Kurama to budge. Safe to say with all the training he has been getting, he is now faster, stronger and tougher than before.

Sasuke had become more arrogant since he had unlocked his sharingan. He would activate it every time he would spar with Kakashi, Sakura or Naruto. He had attempted to copy their jutsu but when he fought Kakashi, he wouldn't get anything but visual recognition of Kakashi's fighting style. When he spared with Sakura he got nothing since she only had strength going for her and it was a standard fighting style which he could care less about. It was when he spared against Naruto that brought many more problems. The first time he spared with Naruto he had tried to copy the Kage Bunshin but due to his immature Sharingan he only got the hand sign and movement of chakra for it but not the amount of chakra required so when he tried to make ten clones at once he couldn't even make one and all he ended up doing was using every ounce of his chakra in a pointless endeavor causing him to collapse immediately from extreme chakra exhaustion. This caused him to remain in the hospital for a little over a week much to his ire.

Now both Naruto and Sasuke were facing off against each other in another spar.

Kakashi stood in between them as the got ready "now you two, try not to overdue it this time"

Naruto nodded his head as he got into the stance for his personal fighting style and subtly undid the henge on his nails, allowing his claws to be used

Sasuke gave his usually "Hm" and activated his sharingan, not even going into a fighting stance