Naruto Broken Shinobi

chapter 9

The three genin had entered the Academy and were walking up to the appropriate room when they came across something strange. There was a large group of people standing outside of a room being blocked off by two older looking genin. The sign above the door said '301' but to Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura; something was quite obviously off. It was quickly realized as well, they were only on the second floor as they had only gone up one flight of stairs. Sasuke was about to call out to the genin to drop it when Naruto nudged him in the side and motioned for him to be quiet. Confused, Sasuke followed as Naruto led him and Sakura around the group and onwards to another staircase. As they passed the group they saw someone wearing green getting knocked down by one of the kids blocking the door. "Okay, why did you stop me from getting those wimps to drop the genjutsu?" Sasuke asked as they came up to another set of stairs. Naruto shook his head.

"I thought it would be obvious, to keep out the real wimps. That genjutsu was there as a pre-test of sorts. If they can't see past such a simple illusion then they don't deserve to be chunin." Naruto responded with in a bored tone as if it would've been obvious. Sasuke was slightly confused though. Why wouldn't he want more in the exams? It meant more chances to prove your power right? So why would you knock off the competition before they even showed up? "The exams are tough and while those people may suck shit at genjutsu, who knows? Maybe they could've been nin- or taijutsu gods that would've been unstoppable in the rest of the exams. It's easier this way and improves our chances of passing."

"I see we're not the only ones who thought that way. We even put on a show to help enforce the illusion." The three spun around to see a boy with dark hair and white eyes standing next to his teammates with a smirk on his face. His teammates were a girl with a pink sleeveless shirt and her brown hair styled in buns while the other was a boy with a black bowl cut hair style and green spandex on.

"Lee, Tenten. Nice to see you again." Naruto greeted normally before just looking at the other boy. "Neji." His tone was stiff, almost forced, something they all noticed but the older three were seemingly used to it as the boy's had a small history with each other.

"I didn't know you were taking part in the exams Naruto-san. I expected this to be a clean sweep. With you here I might actually get the challenge I've been wanting for two years." Neji boasted, not even bothering to acknowledge Naruto's teammates.

"Couldn't take the exams without a team Neji." Was his smooth reply. The boy finally looked at the two for a few seconds before focusing once more on Naruto.

"They don't seem like much. Even if one is the supposedly great 'last' Uchiha." Sasuke grit his teeth and was about to retort but Naruto cut him off.

"That's what I thought too when I was first stuck with them. Now though, they'll be more than enough to get through the exams." Neji seemed to accept this and continue onwards towards the exams room as Tenten gave a small smile and Lee a large one and wave before following. Naruto watched them leave before facing his teammates.

"You two just met Hyuuga Neji, last years 'Rookie of the Year'. His teammates are Tenten, last years' top kunoichi, and Rock Lee, last years' dobe. Do not underestimate any of them as they are tough opponents. On a side note, Tenten is the person I would've given the Kubikiri to had both of you refused it." Naruto added with a look towards Sasuke. They both nodded though Sasuke was reluctant, obviously still angry at being dismissed by someone that knew him without him being able to return the favor. "Last I saw them was on a mission just after the exams I was last in. Unless they changed drastically over the time since, they are a powerful physical assault team so close combat is a bad choice normally. Should we have to face them, I'd say we'd be pretty even since I'd put our team in the same role with me and Sasuke to attack the enemy and Sakura to give support. Let's not worry about them for right now though alright?" Naruto gave them both a small smile before turning around and walking on to the exam room, leaving his teammates to wonder what seemed to be the conflict between Neji and Naruto.