I don't plan on abandoning this story, though I may rewrite it at some point. There are a few rookie mistakes thrown about in there all over the place. Also, for the people 'critiquing' my take on the Rinnegan… I'll admit that I've taken liberties, but it's a damn sure bet that Naruto, having Senju blood, would be able to utilize the Rinnegan rather well on his first try. This particular Doujutsu removes all the drawbacks of the original Sharingan. I know a LOT about Naruto theory, so don't worry about those things. It'll all come together in the end.

Jiraiya was a little worried. No, scratch that. He was intensely worried. They had taken every precaution against Orochimaru. Jiraiya was right there in the Kage box with Hiruzen. Kakashi was aware of the issue. Naruto had his mission with Gaara, which should be simple. Orochimaru should've held no leverage in theory.

But that was the issue in its entirety.

Orochimaru, being the personification of a snake, should have pulled out of this farce long ago. But he was still here. As long as that was the case, there was no way that Jiraiya could stop being on edge. Orochimaru was also the strongest Sannin and may have even been stronger than Hiruzen at this point. No, there was no doubt about that fact. Orochimaru was the strongest.

Even so, what could be done?

Naruto bit his nail lightly. So Shino was stronger than he expected. It seemed as if there were more than a few unexpected surprises within the Kumo group. Omoi reentered the stands and high-fived Karui. Samui smiled lightly. "You did great, Omoi. That was really cool."

Omoi eyed Naruto warily. "Yo-you aren't going to get angry with me for defeating your friend and try to fight me, are you? Because that could start an international incident that could spark a war spanning the continent. And it could be so monumental that even Tetsu no Kuni could be drawn into it, which might mark the reign of missing-nin like the ones we ran into the other day!"

Naruto facepalmed.

Everyone turned to Naruto for an explanation. Naruto glared at Omoi. "That was an S-ranked secret. Why would you say that, dattebayo?!"

"Shouldn't we at least get an explanation?" Shikamaru asked with a lazy cock of his eyebrow. "It's troublesome, but we might need to know something about it in the future. How did you of all people run into them?"

Naruto knew it wasn't in his best interests to reveal what he knew. If he told them about either Kisame or Itachi, they'd demand to know their business in Konoha. Some of the more perceptive genin could link Itachi to Sasuke, and Sasuke would eventually find out. Beyond that, he couldn't actually reveal any details about the Akatsuki, due to how rumors spread. There may even be spies among the group.

"I'll leave it at this: S. Ranked. Secret. Don't bother pegging the Kumo genin for answers, either. It'd look bad on their Kage, wouldn't it?" Naruto gave a pointed glare to Omoi, who rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Anyway, Tomato Head, isn't it time for your match?"

"I'd watch it if I were you, Fishcake-chan," Karui growled. "But, yeah, it is my turn."

"Will Karui of Kumo and Tsurugi Misumi please enter the stage?" came Genma's voice. Omoi and Samui clasped karui's back. They shared a knowing look.

"We've come this far," Samui said seriously "It wouldn't be cool to lose here."

"Yeah, Karui! You've got this! I want to face your whole team if I can, dattebayo!" Naruto encouraged. Karui smirked at the three and hopped over the edge.

Naruto grit his teeth in worry. 'The bastard and Sensei aren't here yet. What could he possibly be learning? And will he even be able to fight after it? I have to see that new jutsu 'ttebayo. And if anyone deserves a shot at being a Chunin, it's Sasuke.'

"Karui of Kumo vs. Tsurugi Misumi. Hajime!"

Karui clutched her blade with a wicked grin upon her face. "How do you want it? High or low?"

Misumi scowled. "You think you're better than me, you brat?! I'll show you!" He rushed forward in what seemed like reckless abandon. Karui slashed her sword at his neck, but he bent at an impossible angle and elongated his arms, wrapping them around Karui and squeezing.

"This fight is already over 'ttebayo…" Naruto muttered, causing Shikamaru to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

'What happened to the dead-last we've seen before? Troublesome…' Shikamaru looked over at Samui and Omoi. "Your opinions?"

"You're not really supposed to touch Karui with any bare part of your body in a fight…" Omoi muttered. "You'll see."

Karui's body lit up with black sparks. Misumi was blasted forward with a cry of pain. Looking at Karui, you could see that her eyes were completely black, and she was covered in black sparks. It didn't look like much of a change, but when Misumi staggered to his feet…

Karui disappeared.

"Winner of the fourth match: Karui of Kumo!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. He ignored the sharp pulse of pain in his temples and focused on Karui. "That move… it was like… a Shunshin? But… faster 'ttebayo. And also kind of like what happens when a Raiton: Kage Bunshin explodes. Just… constant. Sugoi…! You guys are really strong, Mui-chan!"

Samui turned to Naruto. "You deduced that just from watching her activate her Meian Chakura Modou? How?"

'Dark Light Chakra Mode, huh? Raiton techniques are sounding better and better lately…' Naruto thought to himself. Then he answered Samui's question. "I could literally tell just by looking at her activate her jutsu. It isn't that difficult if you know what to look for, dattebayo."

'So, he's improved…' Shikamaru thought rapidly. 'He's getting into fights with missing-nin. He knows S-ranked secrets… He's being groomed as Hokage, as well. But why? It can't just be because he wants to be Hokage. There are better choices, especially since with him they'd've had to start from scratch. Uzumaki… I'll have to do some research on that name. That's as much as I can do for now. Troublesome…'

"Uchiha Sasuke and Sabaku no Gaara, please enter the arena," Genma said lazily. Gaara appeared quickly. Genma waited five seconds. "If Uchiha Sasuke doesn't appear within five minutes, he is automatically disqualified without appeal." This of course lead to boos and jeers from the crowd. 'Dumb civilians… From what I can tell, that Uzumaki brat should be stronger than the Uchiha.' Genma looked at Hiruzen. 'Your call, Hokage-sama.'

"Hokage-dono, maybe we should wait a while yet for the Uchiha to arrive?" Orochimaru prodded. "I'd surely like to see my son against the so-called strongest rookie Genin of Konoha."

Hiruzen blew smoke out of his pipe. "The Uchiha may be a member of a founding clan, but if he's picked up his sensei's habits, then I can't say I'd want him as a Chuunin under my command. Not yet, at least. Not until he's had more training. That being said…" Hiruzen stood to call the match off. As soon as he did, Kakashi and Sasuke appeared in the arena. "Hm. I guess you'll get your wish, Kazekage-dono."

Kakashi patted Sasuke's shoulder.

"Show them what I've taught you, Sasuke. I've got to catch up with Naruto."

Sasuke gave his sensei a curt nod, focusing his attention on Gaara as the scarecrow-reminiscent man left the arena in a shunshin. "Gaara… you're the one I want to fight right before Naruto. So let's not waste any time here, got it?"

Gaara grinned eerily, his sand leaking out. "I'm sure you'll feel differently once my sand uses you to prove my existence."

"Final match of the first round: hajime!"

Gaara's sand shot forward towards Sasuke, who didn't bother to unsheathe his blade just yet. Instead, he dashed to the side, completely avoiding the first strike, and sped forward towards Gaara's three o'clock. The Chuunin-hopeful brandished a kunai as he approached.

"Ohayou, Kaka-sensei!" Naruto greeted as Kakashi stood in front of him, of course reading his porn. "What can you tell me about the training you an' Sasuke've been doing? Huh? What's this about a jutsu he learned 'ttebayo?"

Kakashi flipped a page. "Maa, maa, Naruto. He's saving it for you. I personally recommend you not tread lightly when dealing with him, though. I don't know exactly how well Jiraiya-sama trained you, but I wouldn't be surprised if Sasuke could give you a run for your money. Have you learned anything knew?"

Naruto grinned stupidly. "I'm a decent fighter, though I've admittedly had a few ass-pulls with my more recent encounters 'ttebayo. I still need more training. Have any updates for me?"

"Just keep your eye on the prize. You want to be Chuunin, right? Today's your chance."

Sasuke came at Gaara's 3 o'clock with his Kurai poised, but the sand stopped him cold. Sasuke backpedalled as a precaution against Gaara's certain-kill Kurai, Sand Waterfall Coffin. His Sharingan studied the sand without words.

'That sand is fast, I'll admit. But it isn't fast enough, and I can slow it down. Water is out of the question. I could easily pierce the barriers he can erect with a chidori if I wished, but that would leave me wide open to his manual attacks. Katon ninjutsu it is…"

Sasuke began to rapidly fire through hand seals while dodging around Gaara's sand, not even stopping after thirty.

"For a Genin to go through so many signs for a single jutsu's is unheard of," the Kazekage mused. "It seems that more than just Hatake's anti punctual habits have rubbed off on the last Uchiha. Gaara may sweat a little."

Hiruzen chuckled. "The Uchiha clan is one of the world's most feared clans for good reason. And Sasuke is every bit as prodigious as his brother before him."

Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with glee. 'You truly are fascinating, Sasuke-kun. It won't be long now…'

Sasuke smirked lightly as he landed on the monkey seal. "All this training… it was worth it. Katon: Gouka Meshitsu!" He took a deep breath and expelled a condensed cone of flame at Gaara. Gaara pulled up most of his sand in order to block, but it was no use. The fire burned directly through the admittedly thick clump of brown dust, hitting Gaara's body and causing him to let out a horrible shriek.

Sasuke unsheathed a kunai and went to make his opponent yield, but Gaara's sand covered him in a sphere. Sasuke blinked and took a step back. Behind the sand dome, Gaara could be heard screaming, "It burns! You burned me, you burned me! It hurts!" Sasuke twirled his kunai in anticipation.

Naruto watched Gaara intensely. 'He's losing control of his bijuu... I don't think Sasuke can stop a tailed beast, which is why I don't bring it into consideration when comparing myself to him.' Naruto turned to Kakashi. "Should we do something about that? Isn't it against the rules or something, dattebayo?"

Kakashi waved an arm. "Maa, Naruto, there's no rule against it. Otherwise you wouldn't be in the Exams, either. I think Sasuke can handle it for the most part, either way."

The Kumo team looked at them, then at Gaara. "So you have a burden like that, Ruto-kun? —I don't have a problem with it, I'm just curious," Samui said. Naruto nodded with a grimace.

"No one's supposed to know, but I guess the cat's out of the bag for a reason anyways. Let's see how this this fight plays out…"

Feathers began falling from the sky.

I know this chapter's short and with how long it took to update there's no excuse. I AM still writing it, though, so there's that. Merry belated Christmas!

Edit: Fixed a continuity error. My bad.