The Prodigy Namikaze by SoulReaperCrewe

Chapter 10: Exam Interlude

Naruto grinned happily as he walked through the gates of Konoha with the two chunin guards giving him a friendly wave as he walk past. Itachi and Anko walked beside him while Mikoto was behind them all happy to be home.

The two days they had off after the second exam was a welcome put stop for the trio since walking in the hot desert of Suna for three days had taken its toll on them.

After the entire five days were up, they were reported to the Kazekage office where they saw that to their surprise only two other teams had made it. One was the Iwa team while the other was a team from Kumo.

The Kazekage was a man in his mid-thirties with dark plum red hair with tanned skin and brown eyes. Around his eyes he had dark rings around them like he had not had enough sleep and wore the traditional Kage robes.

As he congratulated them he told them all about the purpose of the Chunin Exams and that they were used as a deterrent of war so that it can help build better relationships between the shinobi villages of the world.

Afterwards they each had to pick a number in order to figure out who would fight who in the match ups. It was decided that since there were nine of them; the first three matches would be single matches while the fourth would be a triple threat match.

Naruto ended up picking number 8, Anko got 1 while Itachi got 4. When they revealed what numbers they all got, Naruto found out the names of everyone in the match while also saw who his opponent would be in the first match. Or in Naruto's case who his first two opponents would be.

Anko of Konoha vs. Raido of Kumo

Deidara of Iwa vs. Itachi Uchiha of Konoha

Kurotsuchi of Iwa vs. J of Kumo

C of Kumo vs. Naruto U Namikaze of Konoha vs. Akatsuchi of Iwa

Though Naruto mentally groaned at the thought of starting off with two opponents rather than one, he sucked it in and just got over it. Besides he figured it would be a great test of his strength.

Though he noticed that when he looked over at the Iwa team the girl from the first test was staring at him. At first it looked like a confused frown as if she was trying to figure something out before she scowled a little and looked away.

He decided that girls were just too weird for him to understand.

"Okay everyone." Mikoto said stopping them. "I'm going to go see the Hokage and tell him we're back. The rest of you can head on home and get some well-deserved rest. Though I expect you all to be training for the next portion of the exams." She said as the three nodded.

"Now since I am Itachi's mother as well as sensei I am going to be able to help him every day get prepared for the exams in a month's time. That won't mean I will leave any of you out though. If you want my help just come to Uchiha Clan compound and I will help."

"Thanks sensei, but I think I might get a few of the older jonin to help. Kurenai-san said she would help me if I got past the first two exams as did Ibiki. I might ask them for some help." She said as Mikoto nodded before looking at Naruto

"I might ask jiji and Baa-chan to help me prepare."

Mikoto nodded again but reminded them to come get her if they needed help since she wanted to help all her students equally, which both Naruto and Anko thanked her for. The group departed and Naruto made his way back to his home.

When he arrived home he found it rather more silent then usual and wondered where everyone was until he tried to sense them. To his surprise he sensed Kushina and his siblings all outside in the backyard.