Valued Mates

Forest of Death

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
\Thoughts\

Naruto talking in his mind.
'Kurama/Kyuubi'
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(Forest of Death)

"Are you maggots ready?" Anko asked.

"Hai!" They answered.

"Good." She smirked. "Ibiki, hand them out."

Ibiki went to each team and handed them a scroll. No one said a word. Once he finished, Ibiki went to stand next to Anko. She gave them all a sadistic look.

"Each team has been given a scroll. There are two different types of scrolls. You must get them both to advance to the next test." She smirked. "Off you go."

They all took off. Each team going in another direction. Team seven was prepared. They watched each other's backs. They didn't want to be ambushed. Naruto looked at Sasuke. He was the one with the scroll.

"Do you know which scroll we have?" He asked.

"Heaven. We need the Earth scroll." He answered.

"We need a plan." Sakura said.

"We need several plans." Sakure said. "But first, Naruto, do you have a storage seal?"

"Yeah." He handed it over.

"Arigato." He put the scroll in it.

"You're welcome."

"Let's create a fake scroll." The pink haired ninja suggested.

"Good idea." The boys said.

They got to work. A boy in glasses walked up to them. He began to attack. The trio fought him off. Suddenly a giant snake appeared. They could feel the chakra coming off from it. Sakura looked at Naruto.

"Do it. That's our only chance." She said.

"She's right. We'll defend you." Sasuke said.

"Okay." He said. Ready?

'I am.' Kurama answered.

Kurama's chakra began flowing from the seal. Naruto's appearance changed and he looked like he did when he fought Haku. It didn't take long for him to tear the snake to shreds. Sakura picked up an interesting piece of cloth that the boy in glasses dropped. Naruto returned to normal.

"That attack doesn't feel right." The pink haired ninja stated.

"It doesn't." Sasuke agreed. "Neither that boy or the snake were going after the scroll."

"It seemed like they were going after you, Sasuke-kun." Naruto said.

"Let's report it as soon as we can." The dark haired boy said.

"Hai." The other two agreed.

"How are you feeling, Naruto-kun?" He asked.

"I'm okay." He smiled at his teammate.

"Good." He smiled back. "Let's go."

"Hai!" The other two said.

The trio continued until they came to a group that had the Earth scroll. It took a bit but they were able to take them down. They returned to where Anko was. She told them they passed and told them where to go to wait. Kakashi stopped them.

"Congratulations." He eye smiled at him.

"Arigato." The three said.

"Oh, Kakashi-sensei something weird happened during the test. Naruto said.

"Oh?"

The three explained what happened. Kakashi frowned underneath his mask. His students had a right to be concerned. He gave them each a pat on the head. Sasuke growled while the other two sighed. Naruto nearly melted when the hand brushed against his hidden ears.

"I'll look into it. Thank you for telling me." He said.

"You're welcome."

"Why didn't you tell Anko or Ibiki?" He asked.

"Forgot until now." The blonde admitted.

"I see." He figured they let the test be their main focus and forgot about it.

"Sorry." He looked guilty.

"It's alright." He assured the blonde. "Remember not to start a fight or you'll be disqualified."

"Hai!"

"I'll see you cute genin later." He gave them an eye smile before taking off.

"Hopefully we will be upgraded to cute chunins." Naruto pouted.

"I'm not cute." Sasuke said.

"I know." He smirked.

"Shut up." He rolled his eyes. "Not a word from you." He warned Sakura.

"I wasn't going to say anything." She held her hands up in defense.

"You were either going to say I was cute or agree with the baka." He said, giving her a narrowed eyed look.

"Not me." She said innocently.

"Liar."

"Prove it." She smirked.

"I can't believe it." Kiba gasped.

"What?" Sakura and Naruto asked.

"I can't believe I am seeing you three act this way." It was odd.

"Why?" The pink haired ninja asked. "Because I was obsessed with Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun was hyper and really annoying and Sasuke-kun was a self involved jerk?" Her team was the only one not gaping in shock.

"H-hai." He answered.

"Yeah, we got over that." She waved it off.

"I see that." He blinked.

Sakura sent him a smile. She knew how people saw her now. Her old self was something that horrified her. She still wasn't talking to her parents. They told her she wasn't the daughter they raised just because she no longer bullied Naruto and was friends with him. She liked the new her and she had more friends because she no longer acted better than them.

"I like it. They aren't fighting every few minutes." Shino said.

"True." Kiba agreed.

"Sakura's also nicer to be around." The blonde snickered.

"Oh shut up." She glared.

"Sorry." He didn't sound like it.

"Liar."

"Hehe."

"Ugh!" She groaned.

"Which one of you is Uchiha Sasuke?" One of the new arrivals asked.

"Who's asking?" Naruto asked.

"I'm Rock Lee. I wanted to know at the Exam Hall during the first test but I was distracted by this beauty." He looked at Sakura with hearts in his eyes.

"Um..." That shocked the green eyed ninja.

"But now I want to challenge you to a fight." He said.

"After the chunin exams are over." Sasuke said.

"Understood." He nodded.

"Great."

"Come along maggots." Anko said. "Time for the next part of the exams."