Naruto: A New Perspective

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto if I did then this would be canon

"We will, we will, rock you!" Naruto sang.

"Do you have to do that?" Shikamaru rubbed his eyes, "I just woke up."

"Don't you like music, Shika?" Naruto pouted, "What's your favorite song?"

"The quiet song." Shikamaru retorted, "Why don't you sing that?"

The three genin were walking into the academy, a few other genin from Konoha and other villages were around but Naruto didn't see anyone he knew personally. They were early, but not by much. Naruto was excited, he couldn't help it, he was going to get to prove himself worthy of Chuunin and gain another step on the path to becoming Hokage.

"Naruto has the right idea." Ino smiled, "Why shouldn't we be confident? We're the best!"

"I highly doubt that." Shikamaru grumbled, "You can barely climb trees, Naruto was dead last in the academy, and I'm lazy."

"Shut up!" Ino smacked him across the head, "Stop being so negative!"

They climbed up to the third floor where the exam was taking place, a crowd was outside 301. Blocking the door to the exam were two genin about their age.

"Don't bother," one snorted, "The Chuunin Exams is too tough for kids like you, you'd just die!"

"We're doing you a favor." The other added, "Weak kids like you should just go home!"

"It's a genjutsu." Ino whispered, and Shikamaru nodded.

"Let's keep going." The Nara boy muttered quietly, "This is obviously a mini-test; it'll weed out some of the weaker participants."

The three shuffled along and moved to the opposite end of the floor and opposing stairwell. Sure enough the next level was level three, Naruto was a bit put out that he hadn't seen the genjutsu but then again he had always been terrible in recognizing them.

The real 301 was filled with participants, some glared at them as they entered but most ignored them. The temporary Team 10 found some seats in a corner by the door and warily eyed the rest of the room. Most of the participants were much older than they were and most of them didn't look friendly.

Naruto caught a red headed Sand-nin's eye for a second, and the spike of killer intent was fierce, he quickly looked away. Naruto had never felt killer intent like that; it had an animalistic bloodlust to it that simply wasn't human.

"So, you guys are here too!" Kiba plopped down in a nearby chair and gave them a grin, "Sucks that you're stuck with the idiot instead of Chouji."

Naruto smirked; he was used to Kiba by now. "Watch it dog breath, or I might not be so nice when we fight."

"I'm really scared." Kiba retorted, smirking as well, "We'll blow past you for sure."

"H-Hello Naruto." Hinata greeted him quietly, and Naruto smiled at his shy friend.

"Hi Hinata! It's been a few weeks since I seen you... how has your training been?"

"Hey stop fishing for info!" Kiba growled, Akamaru barked from the top of his head. Akamaru didn't really like Naruto.

"Shut your yappy dog up, Kiba." Shikamaru groaned, "I'm trying to sleep."

Before Kiba could respond, Ino burst from her chair yelling, "Sasuke!" Like a magnet she was instantly drawn to the Uchiha as he entered the room, glomping on him much to Sakura's distaste and Aiko's amusement.

The rest of the rookies followed Ino to meet Team 7. Kiba gave Sasuke the same speech he gave Naruto... and of course Sasuke replied in kind.

"Now you just have two girls, Sasuke." Kiba mocked, "Hinata could beat either of them with her eyes closed. You might have had a chance with Naruto, cuz he doesn't know when to quit, but now we'll beat you for sure!"