Hello, readers. I hope that this message did not get your hopes up for a second comeback.

This is more a final goodbye. I am joining the US Navy. I've signed a contract and am headed for bootcamp in February. During the five years, I will at last complete a few books and be published by the time I leave.

My original fiction is... it's awesome. I say that unbiasedly. Everything I've learned about writing has been poured into the characters, who have written much of the plot for me. I intend for my original work to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

I started writing in 06. Man, when I think about how far I've come... My progress has been surreal. And it was thanks to fanfiction and the community around it. The overwhelmingly positive feedback and criticism. And even some of the negative feedback.

But enough about that. This message is about Senkou Arashi. I love this story. I don't love all my stories. But this one is special to me. I'd even like to think that it helped, alongside others, to push the Naruko character tag onto the web site.

Before I go, I'd like to share the plot I had intended for the story. Well, plot points. I never planned things out the way others may. I flew by the seat of my pants with every chapter, just writing as I went along.

But some events I had centered the story around. Events that everything would stretch out towards and connect eventually, and never contradict each other.

I'd also like to discuss some of Senkou's faults I've discovered with time.

This was my first attempt at romance and I don't think it was bad. I could have done better with it, but I'm proud of what came of it. I would have stretched it out further and shown Naruto and Sasuke slowly overcoming their mutual animosity. I probably would have had them kiss in the forest because it their earlier, accidental kiss was distracting them. Or at least that's what they would think.

The point is, I could now write a better romance if I were starting from scratch. Writing this has helped grasp how best to write romance. I myself have no experience with intimacy, so I was kind of firing blind.

I also could have made it more balanced so that Sasuke appeared to be more on par with Naruto and Hinata. Though in my defense, the times he was trumped by Hinata was in taijutsu, and I meant for him to appear helpless against her in that respect. At least initially. I think I had difficulty capturing Sasuke's full talent without his signature moves of Chidori, and knowing that fire jutsu never hurt anyone. At the same time I would have waited for Sasuke to unlock his Sharingan, but still have done it before the fight with Haku.

Also, a more recent review pointed out to me that I used the word 'bitch' a lot in the story, and I concur with that.

Something I really like about the story is Naruto herself. I feel I really nailed the personality even when switching the gender, and many reviewers commented on this. I think this is the single factor that pulls the entire story together, Naruto being .. Naruto. I'm quite satisfied by her portrayal, it came across exactly as I wanted.

If you'd like to know the plot, continue reading.

PLOT

The teams arrive in Mizu no Kuni. They have to combat a sea of sharks and race up a cliff, which is the last scene that I actually wrote out. Before they get their bearings and all arrive at the cliffs, Haku has been kidnapped by loyalists that believe in purging the bloodline limits and were monitoring the border. They mount a rescue which results in Hinata saving Haku from a torturer by throwing a senbon and seeming to miss, only for Haku to catch it with his teeth and spit it out in the troturer's neck, paralyzing him. I foreshadowed this by showing Haku observed Genma's habit of chewing a senbon.

They meet with the rebellion, that is headed up by Mei Terumi. I had plans for a few of the Seven Swordsman (this was before they were introduced in canon, of course). One was going to be a man with a starfish attached to his spine. Zabuza would casually bisect him when he annoyed him, but the man would simply grow the limbs back and smile every time. A lot of comedy similar to Jeebs from MIB.

Hinata would have been quite interested in Aoi's eye, of course, not entirely sure what would come of it, but she would definitely report his possession of the Byakugan to her father. Also of note is that Hinata begins to wear her hood up in this arc. I don't think I've EVER read a story where she wore her hood.

Sakura examines some of the kekkai genkai of Kiri, familiarizing herself with genetic strains of mutation which become critical later.

They plot an invasion force of Kiri for after the Chunin Exams, giving us an arc to look forward to. Zabuza and Haku may have acted as liaisons while Kakashi was the ambassador to Kiri. They return home.

Once they do, the Sandaime decides to give Team 7 a test that even the Sanin could not pass. It is a See no Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak no Evil test, where each member of the team is afflicted with one of these impairments. Hinata would be without sight, Sasuke without hearing, and Naruto without speech. Naturally Sasuke makes a remark on how he could get used that at least, and naturally gets a punch in the arm.

The test requires supreme teamwork, and each would grow individually from it. Sasuke would have to read Naruto's lips (and not get distracted, Hiyooooo!) with the Sharingan and translate Naruto's words for Hinata. This is how he emerges as the Team's leader. Hinata would discover her ability as a sensor type after feeling completely helpless. Naruto would learn how stealthy she could be without talking. Hah. She would begin to perfect Shippuuren, as it does not require her to shout the name of her techniques (which ninja do for whatever reason) as not being able to speak hampers the ability to use justu.

Working together they manage to pass the test.

I would have written Sandaime as actively but subtly grooming the team, Naruto in particular to succeed him. That was why he gave the test to the Sanin, because he saw Konoha's future in them. And given Team 7's accomplishments in this story, I don't think this would be out of character for him.

He begins to trust them with more responsibility. He charges the team with a high rank mission, not because of the danger but the importance. They are to escort the Kazekage's children from Suna to Konoha so they may participate in the chunin exams. He's sending a subtle message with multiple meanings through this action.

The team gets to meet the sand siblings. Temari will flirt with Sasuke, causing her and Naruto to kind of bee at each others throats, mostly because they are both such powerful, driven women. But they become friends and rivals even if they wouldn't say it. Naruto has a lot of respect for Temari's skills. Gaara is only interested in perhaps killing them because of their strength. He restrains himself.

Kankuro uses it as a chance to gauge Konoha genin skills and gather info, asking who the strongest would be, trying to get them to boast. Hinata thinks it's cute and doesn't give him much but also gives him everything, telling Kankuro that that the strongest genin in the world is right next to him, at which point she affectionately grabs Naruto and pokes her cheek. Naruto happily announces that she'll become Hokage. Kankuro is dissapoint in the answer.

Upon returning, they meet a vendor selling fresh fruit and vegetables and soaps and such. He's from out of the village as tourists have come from all over for the Chunin Exams. This vendor is actually an older genin taking the test, Araki from Kusagakure.

They encounter a challenger after the genjutsu doorway. A kunoichi named Shinobu who seems to have it out for Team Seven. Shinobu was one of the students that Kakashi failed even though she was prepared to pass. I'm not sure if anyone has written about one of them coming back into the picture.

She uses a unique skill, Dust Release, thought to belong only to the Sandime Tsuichikage. She is the offspring of the Tsuichikage's son, conceived during the great war. It is unknown if her mother was raped or if she seduced Shinobu's father. Shinobu was treated coldly because of her ancestry and her abilities. The spar is cut short before a fatal blow could be delivered.

The usual dick measuring occurs in the waiting room. Ino is giving Naruto dirty looks, eager for revenge. Kiba is a bit more calm, having been humbled on the mission to Kiri. The group gets along much better than they usually do. Team 7 is not nervous at all.

Araki is sitting nearby at the front of the room with his teammates, a girl with a giant venus flytrap on her back, and a redhead. Naruto greets him with surprise.

Kabuto introduces himself. Hinata cautions the others about the possibility of feeding them false information. Sasuke asks for information about Gaara and Araki.

Naruto only gets excited.

"I don't need to know you scrubs. You only need to remember this name: Uzumaki Naruto. Future Hokage! Stand in my way, and even God can't help you."

Araki cautions however that Kabuto's information is missing a vital piece, as he holds up one of the Yondaime's signature kunai, and claims that he was the Fourth's secret apprentice, much to the shock of everyone present.

Except not, because he was only joking. Man, I smile just thinking of the rage that would have ensued if I had done something so stupid.

Araki did meet the Yondaime as a child, and found one of the battlefields devastated by the Yellow Flash. Yondaime allowed him to keep one of them, after removing the seal from it of course.

The sound ninjas attack Kabuto, but are paralyzed, along with most of the other genin, however by a massive killing intent that dwarfs most jonin. It's Araki. He says that he thought the exam hadn't started yet, but if they had, he would just kill everyone in the room.

I was going to change up the first exam a bit, I'm not sure how.

The Forest of Death would be the unchanged in terms of what the test consisted of. But Team 7 would cheat like crazy, taking full advantage of the situation.

Hinata would mark what scroll every team receives. Naruto would create a few hundred copies of Team 7 and scour the forest. They would track and attack other teams and even trade the fake, shadow cloned Heaven scrolls they have to other teams.

Naruto notices that her clones are being destroyed in rapid succession by someone, but all she can see is a Kusa headband before they are dead. Then they are approached by a team Kusa.

Instead of Orochimaru, it's Araki, who states that he wants to have a fight with Sasuke, and see how he compares to Itachi. That is more than enough to provoke him. The teams engage in battle, Naruto distracted a bit by how her clones are still being wiped out.

Then another grass team approaches. Araki tells them to stand down. Karin, Araki's other teammate, tells him that the chakras are not that of their comrades. Hinata checks and sees the face of Orochimaru beneath the first face, then the face of his real body beneath. Two of the imposters attack Araki, leaving the third to fight Team 7.

Orochimaru is impressed by the team's strength, but they are still no match for him. Hinata questions his motivations. Annoyed, he paralyzes her with killing intent. Orochimaru has a cobra spit venom into Hinata's eyes, blinding her. This is a mark of his pettiness as he has heard this team passed the test he could not. Specifically he had been the blinded student.

Naruto is so enraged by this that she springs into her two tailed form and attacks Orochimaru. Her clones all over the forest also begin using the Kyuubi's chakra, causing pandemonium as they attack anything in sight. (Probably would have had the clones hurt one of the Konoha genin as a result)

Orochimaru manages to fight Naruto off, toying with her. He delivers a blow that knocks her out of the Kyuubi state.

As Orochimaru is about to bite into Sasuke's neck, Naruto manages to jump in the way, and is bitten in the stomach instead. She soon passes out.

With both teammates down, Sasuke is desperate. Araki reappears, stating that since Orochimaru used Kusa ninja to infiltrate, he would take responsibility, and covers their escape as Sasuke recovers his teammates and flees.

Araki and Orochimaru battle. Orochimaru notes he is must stronger than any genin should be, and wonders what he is doing there. Still, Araki is no match, and is impaled by the Kusanagi, but the venom of the blade does not affect him, as his body is filed with scorpion summons, which he uses to escape.

The Sandaime, sensing the Kyuubi's chakra, sends Jiraiya into the Forest.

Sasuke helps Hinata get the venom out of her eyes, dunking her head into a river. She remains blinded. He takes them to a secluded spot. Sasuke believes the only person that could help them is Sakura. Hinata disputes this, and says that getting Naruto's seal checked is the priority.

Kyuubi tells Naruto that he can destroy the seal before it corrodes her mind, but as a result, she will be unable to use her full chakra at any one time, as in she could only use one-fifth of her maximum chakra at once, otherwise her chakra system will collapse.

They are attacked by the Sound team. Seeing that Sasuke is intent on protecting his team, they use that against him, even holding Naruto hostage. Naruto, though weakened, turns the tables and strangles Kin to death with her hair. Sasuke viciously eliminates the others.

Sakura, Kiba and Shino find them, along Neji, Lee and Tenten. After suspicion about what Naruto's clones did and how, Sakura begins examining Hinata's injury. She can extract the poison but will need Neji's help to do so with precision, otherwise the damage may be irreversible.

Neji refuses, and almost leaves until Naruto swears on her mothers grave that she will kill him if he does not help save Hinata's eyes. Lee and Tenten also threaten to quit the exam. Neji relents, but Naruto is unforgiving and swears to make him suffer. Sasuke bargains a scroll as well.

They extract the poison, but Hinata remains blinded.

They arrive at the tower. Hinata withdraws from the exams, and the doctors say they are uncertain she will ever recover. Naruto swears bloody revenge on Orochimaru.

PRELIMS

Naruto vs Sakura

This is a match without any bad blood between them. They are good friends and do not fight over Sasuke at all. Sakura uses her genjutsu and medical ninjutsu and is quite challenging for Naruto. Naruto unleashes a unique taijutsu combo and wins the match. They are friends at the end of the match, which makes Ino hate Naruto all the more, since she can have Sasuke and Sakura's friendship.

Sasuke vs Kiba

A match filled with testosterone and arrogance, but no ill will. Sasuke and Kiba have come to respect one another. Sasuke wins the match.

Lee vs Shibire

Shibire is one of Shinobu's teammates and utterly unremarkable. He and Tanzo, the third teammate, often remark how the competition is filled with super powerful freaks. Lee wins.

Gaara vs Tenten

I thought it would be funny for Tenten to have literally the worst possible match for her in the entire exam. However, this is the reason I gave her Raijin-ken, so she would be able to put up a surprising fight with the lightning weapon that takes the shape of any weapon she wishes. Gaara wins the match.

Neji vs Chouji

I honestly just had to get Chouji out of the way. Neji wins the match.

Araki vs Kankuro

Araki shows wits and uses his ability to control plants to have seeds grow out of the puppet, damaging it and winning the match.

Shino vs Moriko

Moriko is the girl with the Venus flytrap on her back, that eats insects (and people) so this was challenging for Shino, but he manages a win with wits.

Temari vs Tanzo

Temari wins, lamenting she had to fight the weakest person there. Tanzo insists he is only the second weakest. Both Tanzo and Sibire are actual Konoha genin who took the chunin exams. I don't know why Kishi even bothered to name them, but he did.

Shikamaru vs Karin

Well, he has to fight a girl. Of course. Shikamaru wins

Shinobu vs Ino

Just had to get Ino out of the way, but also losing to someone, another kunoichi, who is aiming to fight Naruto sends her further over the edge in hating Naruto.

So the month long training session ensues.

Naruto is trained by Jiriaya. I was planning to write their meeting with some humor. During the month, Naruto learns far more than in canon. With her chakra control at the level of a jonin, she quickly masters summoning, though given the new limitation of her chakra, summoning the large toads is quite a strain, to the point of fainting.

She masters the Rasengan in three days. Works on some barrier ninjutsu. Adds water jutsu to her arsenal. She's really starting ti break into her ridiculous, full potential.

Shippuuren has become full nintaijutsu, allowing Naruto to use her entire body as a weapon, even creating a devastating technique Rankyaku (Storm Leg), a kick that produces slicing wind. (Yeah, it's the move from One Piece. I thought it fit Shippuuren perfectly)

By the time of the Chunin Exam finals, Naruto would have essentially been what is called on the TV tropes, a 'Showy Invincible Hero'.

Sasuke trains his body and learns to open the first gate. He also meets with Araki, who informs him that he will tell him everything he knows about Itachi if Sasuke forfeits his match against him, should he make it that far.

During this time, Kabuto, Sakura's mentor, uses her knowledge of Kiri bloodlines to help with a blood sample of a sickly patient he has. Sakura manages to find an cure for the illness.

Ino and Naruto reconcile after Ino sees some other girls bullying Naruto in a nasty way.

FINALS ROUND 1

Naruto vs Neji

A slaughter essentially. Naruto uses seals that prevent the Byakugan from seeing the tenketsu under her clones. This stumps Neji for a time, until, being the genius he is, he calculates the exact positions of all her tenketsu from the ones he can see. He uses the 64 palms and seals her chakra. Naruto even calls him a genius for managing this. However, it was only a clone, as Naruto's clones are as durable as the real one. She proceeds to humiliate Neji with Shippuuren, pummeling him into the arena wall, breaking multiple bones.

Gaara vs Shinobu

This was going to be an interesting fight for Gaara, as Shinobu has Lava Release and Dust Release as her trump cards, allowing her to change the ground. Gaara is pushed but manages to win by thinking more.

Sasuke vs Shino

I originally planned on Lee vs Sasuke, but Psalm of Fire convinced me that Sasuke vs Shino would be an interesting match. Sasuke wins the match.

Temari vs Shikamaru

Same as canon really. Temari wins.

Araki vs Lee

This was going to be an intense one. Araki can easily keep up with Lee even after he ditches the weights. Lee unleashes more and more of the gates until he's released all five. Araki survives the barrage by constantly regrowing thick bamboo armor, which poisons Lee as it splinters off. Using a tangle of seeds from a pumpkin grenade and sap on the ground to slow Lee down defeat him. Before Lee passes out, Araki chastises him, claiming that as a shinobi of Konoha, such a jutsu should be used in life or death, or only to protect the Hokage. Araki gives the medical ninja the antidote.

FINALS ROUND 2

Naruto vs Gaara

This is one would have been one of my favorites. Naruto whips out some of my favorite combinations. She cuts Gaara's cheek with a Rankyaku, giving her most manic smile. He doesn't have time to freak out. She uses Blade of Wind to cut Gaara's sash, then water prison justu to separate him from his gourd and all his sand.

She essentially bullies Gaara for a bit, punching and kicking him while he's defenseless, even putting him in a headlock and giving him a nuggie. Once the sand breaks free and forms the sand orb, Naruto uses Gamakichi and Gamatatsu, who provide oil and fire respectively, combined with her wind justu, turning the sand into glass, allowing Naruto to see into the sphere. Naruto uses the Rasengan and knocks Gaara unconscious.

This allows the exam to continue until completion, as they hold off until Gaara regains consciousness.

Araki vs Temari

Temari tries to buy time by drawing out the match but Araki is too skilled for her to hold out. After he places a scorpion on her neck, she surrenders.

Sasuke gets a bye for the round

FINALS ROUND 3

Naruto gets a bye for the round

Araki vs Sasuke

Araki asks Sasuke if he'll concede the match for information regarding Itachi. Sasuke replies that if he runs away from a fight, it won't matter if he finds Itachi, he'll be too weak to do anything about it. Araki says it's a good answer. They have match that pushes Sasuke into using his full arsenal, releases the first gate, who uses Chidori and Katon justu.

Araki surrenders, however, saying that his injuries from Lee are too much for him to. As Araki only wanted to get his villages leader into the Kage's box with Orochimaru, certain it would mean the end of him.

FINALS FINAL ROUND

Naruto vs Sasuke

And intense match that tests both genin. Water justu chasing Fire, Fire chasing Wind justu. Feeling exhausted and needing to end the fight before he loses a battle of attrition, Sasuke uses the Chidori intending to make Naruto submit (get your minds out of the gutter).

He dispatches a number of clones in a mad dash. However, the second to last clone is quite sturdy, and does not as disperse as Sasuke punctures her chest (This was planned long before the final Naruto/Sasuke fight in canon. But it looks similar). He stops in shock and feels the blood, thinking that he's killed her. Oblivious to his distress, Naruto uses an underpowered Rasengan and defeats Sasuke. Sasuke feels the burning in his eyes but does not understand that he has just achieved the Mangekyo Sharingan. I would have made it ambiguous foreshadowing but this is a tell all...

Naruto is declared the winner and offers Sasuke a hand up. He is sullen but she has no idea why.

That is when the invasion begins. Everyone would have some time to shine. But the major change is that when a clone of Naruto's is near the barrier containing Sandaime and Orochimaru, it reacts when Yondaime is summoned. Her shriek distracts the Sandaime, and a piece of Yondaime's soul in the Kyuubi seal comes out and takes over the undead body, making it a battle between Orochimaru, Shodaime and Nidaime against Sandaime and Yondaime.

In the end, Orochimaru is defeated and retreats, and Sandaime survives.

Gaara is defeated by a combination of Gamabunta and Sasuke, who turn his entire body into glass, and Naruto leaps at the crystallized bijuu and delivers the final blow with a Rasengan, knocking Gaara out again.

When things settle down, Naruto gets to spend some time with her father. However, the remnant of his soul is fading. He does some work on the seal to cure what the Curse Seal damage inflicted, but she will have to complete it on her own, as well as the Rasengan. She tries to resent him, but ends up calling him Dad anyway. He thinks it's adorable. When he begins to fade, she begs him to stay, but he crumbles to dust in her embrace.

Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Shinobu become Chunin.

As it is declared that Hinata's sight will not return, Naruto falls into a depression at being helpless, and blames herself for not stopping Orochimaru from hurting her friend. Jiraiya tells Naruto about the best healer in the world. With Sakura and Hinata accompanying them, they head off to find Tsunade. As they travel, Naruto works on adding wind nature to her Rasengan.

Along the way, Itachi and Kisame attack and chase Naruto. Sasuke arrives to help but is no match. He does resist a second Tsukoyomi with his own Mangekyo surprising Itachi. Itachi calls his brother foolish and unleashes the full Tsukoyomi on her so that she could see what he put Sasuke through. However, her extensive use of shadow clone training gives Naruto the resistance to withstand the three days of torture. Jiraiya shows up and Akatsuki flee.

When they encounter Tsunade, Naruto's relief and Sakura's hero worship are short lived. Jiraiya offers her the position of Hokage, but Tsunade refuses, lamenting her past lost. Naruto calls her a spoiled brat and tells her to suck it up. And when they ask that she at least heal Hinata, Tsunade refuses stating that she doesn't have anything to do with the ninja world any longer.

Hinata offers to pay, but Naruto refuses, saying that Tsunade will heal her for free. She acquired the skill in the shinobi world and healing a fellow Konoha ninja is the least she could do. When Tsunade further badmouths Yondaime and other Hokage, Naruto reaches her limit.

"I don't give a damn who she is! I'll whoop this old bitch's ass. Right. Now!"

The two face off outside. Naruto puts up a good fight and impressing Tsunade with her destructive power. Tsunade notes Naruto is much more powerful than she was at her age.

Frustrated, Naruto asks if Tsunade needs both hands to heal someone as she summons a clone to add wind nature to the Rasengan. Naruto unleashes Fuuton: Rasengan. Jiraiya warns Tsunade not to underestimate the attack. Tsunade punches it at full power.

The resulting explosion breaks Naruto's arm and bloodies Tsunade's. Tsunade wryly asks if Naruto expects her to heal her arm now too.

Naruto demands Tsunade to teach them instead, if she won't use her skills then they would learn them and use them for the village. Tsunade says that isn't possible, but Naruto challenges that she could learn her medical ninjutsu in a week.

Tsunade bets the necklace and takes her up on it. Tsunade heals Hinata's eyes, claiming that Naruto would only keep pestering her if she did not., however she cannot removed the bandages just yet.

Naruto, Sakura and Hinata study and learn medical ninjutsu under Tsunade and Shizune. They are impressed by Sakura's existing knowledge and potential, as well as Naruto's ability to create medical chakra in a day. Naruto and Sakura also begin learning the steps of Tsunade's super strength technique.

Orochimaru and Kabuto attack with a fully recovered Kimmimaro in tow. Kabuto thanks Sakura for her assistance in curing him.

Naruto flies at Orochimaru, only for Kabuto to impede her.

"Out of the way, ass-puppet, or you're dead!"

Kabuto refuses and Naruto spears her hand through his stomach with powerful Shippuuren technique and tosses him aside. Kabuto recovers, so Sakura and Hinata decide to help out.

Hinata unwraps her banages and reveals the Sharingan.

Only, no, she's just trolling a bit. Naruto almost laughs herself sick.

The three of them fight Kabuto. Hinata paralyzes him for a moment, and Naruto and Sakura do the Double Lariat to decapitate and kill him. Sakura's arm is broken as she cannot match Naruto's power, and Hinata is injured by Kabuto, leaving Naruto to fight Kimmimaro alone.

This is the fight that I think would have been the most epic. Showcasing the full abilities of both fighters. It ends with Kimmimaro using his ultimate spear technique on a trapped Naruto, who is using Hari Jizo (Jiraiya's hair technique) as a shield against the spinal cord whip. She has two clones help her create Fuuton: Rasenshuriken and uses it to plow through the spear and destroy his chakra system without killing him. She completely exhausts herself.

Orochimaru attempts to kill Naruto, but Tsunade protects her.

So all in all I think that would have been my favorite arc with the inclusion of Sakura and Hinata and the dynamic they provide the group.

Lastly comes the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. Orochimaru offers Sasuke power, information, and the ability to protect Naruto from the Akatsuki and get revenge. He leaves Naruto a note and decides to leave with them.

The resulting chase would be Naruto tearing through the countryside for her sort of boyfriend. I considered having it be a team effort, but with Naruto as powerful as she is, does it on her own. She takes down the Sound Four one by one, without killing them.

However, she does not manage to get there in time and Sasuke is delivered to Orochimaru. As he faces Orochimaru, Sasuke tells him that he did come for revenge, not for his family, but for his teammate and village. Sasuke unleashes Amaterasu point blank, killing Orochimaru as he attempts to take his body.

When Naruto sees Sasuke emerge, she bets him up, kisses him, then beats him up again. Afterward, they raid the lair for information and discover the severed hand with the Akatsuki ring.

They return to the village as heroes, Naruto having captured the Sound Four. Sandaime tests her, and asks what she wants to do with her captives. Naruto decides killing them would be a waste of their skills and gives them a chance to become her personal guard should they swear loyalty to her. She gets to know them each a bit and has them become Konoha shinobi.

Sandaime offers Hinata a promotion to chunin given her action before and during the test. She says that she accepts but wishes to prove herself in combat. Naturally her opponent could only be the champion of the last tournament The two have a brutal, knockdown fight with Hinata exploiting every weakness she can. Naruto still manages to defeat her, but says that Hinata is 'damn strong'.

At this point some months pass before the invasion of Kiri begins, launched from the land of waves. Naruto has taken it upon herself to train in genjustu with Sakura and Kurenai, working on her final weakness.

Sasuke shows Hinata the stone tablet to find out what she sees. Through this experince, she begins to unravel the true, hidden power of the Byakugan, to combine yin and yang chakra and remold reality. That may sound broken but I had it balanced out.

Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata lead squads during the war, and the other rookies show their growth and maturity. It ends with Naruto unleashing and ungodly powerful barrage against the Yondaime Mizukage and killing him, setting Akatsuki's plans back three years.

Naruto and Sauke profess their love for one another, sharing a kiss before she leaves on her training.

STATS 2

These during the Sasuke Retrieval and Kiri invasion arcs.

Naruto
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 2 Intelligence: 3 Strength: 2.5 Speed: 3.5 Stamina: 5 Hand Seals: 2.5
Total: 26.5

Since speed is a result of using chakra to enhance the body, and Naruto's chakra control is much better, her speed is higher. Though her strength is lower, as Tsunade's enhancement justu does not count, and she can only use it in one limb at a time.

Sasuke
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 3 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 2.5 Strength: 3 Speed: 4 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 3
Total: 25.5

Slightly higher than Neji in canon at this point.

Hinata
Ninjutsu: 2.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 2.5 Intelligence: 3.5 Strength: 1 Speed: 3 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 2.5
Total: 20.5

Sakura
Ninjutsu: 2.5 Taijutsu: 1.5 Genjutsu: 4 Intelligence: 4 Strength: 1.5 Speed: 1.5 Stamina: 1.5 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 20.5

Sakura is more Hinata's rival than Naruto's, so I see them as even.

Haku
Ninjutsu: 4 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 4 Strength: 2 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 4.5
Total: 25

Shikamaru
Ninjutsu: 3 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 2 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 3
Total: 22.5

Shikamaru was pushed to train by an irate Ino obsessed with beating Naruto.

Chouji
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 0.5 Intelligence: 1 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 1.5 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 1.5
Total: 16.5

Same as Shikamaru.

Ino
Ninjutsu: 3 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 2.5 Strength: 2 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 3
Total: 18.5

Tenten
Ninjutsu: 3 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 2.5 Strength: 1 Speed: 3.5 Stamina: 1.5 Hand Seals: 2
Total: 18.5

Araki
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 31

Yeah, he was way above genin level, and his reasons for not becoming chunin are revealed later.

Moriko
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 2 Intelligence: 2 Strength: 3 Speed: 1.5 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 2
Total: 19.5

Shinobu
Ninjutsu: 4 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 2 Intelligence: 3 Strength: 2 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 3.5
Total: 22

Shibire
Ninjutsu: 2 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 1 Intelligence: 1 Strength: 1.5 Speed: 2 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 2
Total: 14

Tanzo
Ninjutsu: 2 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 2 Strength: 2 Speed: 1.5 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 2
Total: 15.5

These two were very much outclassed.

Zabuza
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 4.5 Genjutsu: 2.5 Intelligence: 3 Strength: 4 Speed: 4 Stamina: 4 Hand Seals: 4.5
Total: 31

Aoi Rokusho
Ninjutsu: 2.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 2 Strength: 2 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 2
Total: 17

That is when the time skip occurs. During this time Naruto trains in seals to completely rid herself of the Curse Mark and follow her father's footsteps. She learns the Hiraiashin, but can only use it in short bursts before becoming disoriented.

She travels all the villages and warns each of them about the Akatsuki. She gets into some trouble in Iwa as is expected. She even has a spar with the Yondaime Raikage, over the remains of Neji's father. He breaks her ribs, she slices off his arm, but he has it reattached. She returns the body to Konoha so Neji can give him a proper burial.

During the timeskip, Araki becomes the leader of Kusa and has formed ties with Akatsuki.

When Naruto returns after 3 years, she's become a bombshell. And a self-proclaimed super-pervert, having taken the mantle from Jiraiya. She unabashedly tells the others girls the techniques she picked up from geisha and brothels that she intends to use on Sauske. When Sauke mentions that he's going to get his photo updated and that she should as well, Naruto replies,

"Oh, good, I definitely need a new picture of you to masturbate to."

Though tempted, Sasuke states that he wants to cleanse his honor (kill Itachi and avenge his clan) before he will have sex with her, to take that step in his life. Naruto understands but teases him mercilessly.

Much of the story post timeskip is fighting Akastuki and watching the characters evolve.

They have already formed a strategy to prevent Akastuki from completing their plans by protecting Gaara and not letting them take the Ichibi and therefore they cannot seal any of the bijuu.

I was considering that they would instead recalibrate the statue to take the bijuu in reverse order and have the Kyuubi extracted from Naruto, with Chiyo bringing her back. I was never settled on it.

It isn't until Pain attacks that Naruto finally rids herself of the limit on her chakra, allowing the most epic showdown to take place. Second perhaps to the Madara vs Naruto fight that would end the series. And no, I would not include Kaguya. I didn't care for much of the last couple hundred chapters. Not at all.

STATS 3

After the timeskip

Naruto
Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 4.5 Genjutsu: 4 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 3 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 5 Hand Seals: 3.5
Total: 34

Sasuke
Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 4 Genjutsu: 4.5 Intelligence: 3.5 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 4 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 33

Hinata
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 4.5 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 1.5 Speed: 4 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 3.5
Total: 27

Sakura:
Ninjutsu: 3 Taijutsu: 3 Genjutsu: 5 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 3 Speed: 3 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 28

Haku
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 3 Genjutsu: 2.5 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 2.5 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 5
Total: 29.5

Shikamaru
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 2 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 3.5
Total: 25

Chouji
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 1 Intelligence: 2 Strength: 5 Speed: 2 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 1.5
Total: 22

Ino
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 2 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 3 Strength: 2.5 Speed: 2.5 Stamina: 2.5 Hand Seals: 3
Total: 22

Tenten
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 1.5 Intelligence: 3.5 Strength: 1.5 Speed: 3.5 Stamina: 2 Hand Seals: 2.5
Total: 21.5

Neji
Ninjutsu: 4 Taijutsu: 5 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 3.5 Strength: 3 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 3
Total: 29.5

Lee
Ninjutsu: 0.5 Taijutsu: 5 Genjutsu: 1 Intelligence: 2 Strength: 4.5 Speed: 5 Stamina: 4 Hand Seals: 1
Total: 23

Shinobu
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 2 Intelligence: 3 Strength: 2.5 Speed: 3 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 24.5

STATS 4

Final arc

Naruto
Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 5 Genjutsu: 4.5 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 4.5 Stamina: 5 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 36.5

Sasuke
Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 4.5 Genjutsu: 5 Intelligence: 4 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 5 Stamina: 4 Hand Seals: 4.5
Total: 35.5

Hinata
Ninjutsu: 4 Taijutsu: 5 Genjutsu: 3.5 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 2 Speed: 4 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 31

Sakura
Ninjutsu: 3.5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 5 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 3.5 Speed: 3.5 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 4
Total: 31

Haku
Ninjutsu: 5 Taijutsu: 3.5 Genjutsu: 3 Intelligence: 5 Strength: 3 Speed: 5 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 5
Total: 33

Neji
Ninjutsu: 4 Taijutsu: 5 Genjutsu: 3.5 Intelligence: 4.5 Strength: 3 Speed: 5 Stamina: 3.5 Hand Seals: 4.5
Total: 33

Shinobu
Ninjutsu: 4.5 Taijutsu: 2.5 Genjutsu: 2 Intelligence: 3.5 Strength: 2.5 Speed: 3.5 Stamina: 3 Hand Seals: 4.5
Total: 26

The series concludes with Naruto as the Hokage and having two children with Sasuke: Motoko, a daughter she often butts heads with, and her youngest, her son, Shiro, who was born with the Rinnegan due to Naruto being Senju and Sasuke being Uchiha.

Having won at life, Naruto is ready to retire and spend more time with her family, provided Konohamaru can give her a decent fight. He does and becomes the Seventh Hokage.

Hinata is the new head of Root, handling the darker aspects of village business but still completely loyal to Naruto. She has married Haku and has children of her own.

Shiro struggles to understand his power and why he can animate animals after they've passed on, but Motoko helps her little brother through it.

And no, Sasuke isn't a deadbeat dad. Naruto would break his limbs if he tried wandering the world and neglecting his kids.

So that isn't everything, but it's the most important stuff. I regret not being able to give every plot point the attention it deserved, but I'm still happy to have shared these details with you.

(Did something happen to the spell check? I swear it wasn't always this clumsy, and boy did I need it. I kept spelling Tsunade as Tsuande. Must be this small keyboard)

Well, readers, this is my final farewell to the world of fanfiction. (Though I may do a similar notice for one other story) I have much I need to accomplish and sparse the time. Wish me luck, and may you keep the world of fanfiction alive.

Peace out!