Chapter 17 – Just Around the Corner

Dawn broke the dark skies and started the day for Konoha. Out came the early citizens and stores opened up for business. The Hidden Leaf Village had a festive and energetic feeling to it. And so did the Ninjas, out they came some doing morning exercises, sparring and out early already doing missions. Genins were hard at work, as teams and as Individuals. It was as if they were racing time.

"Aren't those kids going to do stuff like those?" Kisame asked as he peeked through the curtains of the window. He glanced to his back and saw Deidara give him a shrug. Sasori paid no attention to any of the two.

The three of them sat silently in the large Namikaze living room. Three of them didn't make it smaller at all. Sasori and Deidara sat together on single couches while Kisame hogged himself a long couch. His feet wide apart and arm resting at the couch's back support. Samehada still held by his left hand. Kisame and the two were parallel to one another.

"They were up all night, busy at the indoor training grounds." Sasori said with a sigh.

"They were as noisy as hell." Deidara's face grimaced as he remembered the almost sleepless night full of noise.

"And of course Naruto drove like a slave driver." He added. "I wonder what Naruto-kun is up to?" Deidara said with a curious face with his pointer finger tapping his chin.

"He is just helping them out. As usual Naruto thinks of others before himself." Itachi said out loud, walking down the last flight of the stairs.

"Looks like you slept well." Sasori pointed out.

"Slept like a sound baby!" Kisame laughed out loud and Deidara bursted into laughter too.

"I didn't sleep a second!" Itachi roared at both with his face teared apart with anger and his body shook with rage.

"Why didn't Naruto-sama use the sound proof barriers?" Sasori wondered stopping the three form another argument.

"Why didn't that idiot do that!" Kisame shouted in realization.

"That's right he could've done that jutsu. And box in the noise…." Deidara said in a low voice.

"Let's ask Naruto." Itachi stated and stormed out to go to the indoor training grounds, where the children currently rested in.

"Why did they even stay to sleep in the training grounds? There are a hell lot more rooms upstairs." Kisame reasoned as the four of them walked in the long hallway.

"They might still be up?"

As they got closer, they heard noises coming from the double doors of the grounds. The door shook and the walls resounded noises and small cracks appeared but they recovered almost immediately. They heard the shouts and voices of the children inside. Taking no more time to stop, Itachi grabbed both knobs and the door went wide open.

The room came to a time stop.

And this was the initial observation due to the current situation:

Hinata was faced with a gang of Naruto clones, on her wrists were covered with a seal tag. The seal most likely constricts her to use her chakra therefore training her pure taijutsu.

Shikamaru stood at the center of the room's ceiling. He had himself in a tough situation as he carried chakra weights on both of his ankles and wrists. The weights constantly eat a bit of chakra while also getting heavier bit by bit. On top of that, he also had his shadow hold down two Naruto clones at the ground. He was obviously training his endurance and chakra storage to be able to increase his storage size and of course use his shadow skills for long periods of time.

Shino was surprisingly free of his little friends. Not one in spot. Just like Hinata, Shino dealt with taijutsu but in a different way. He had to challenge himself not to use his insects in any way to help him. He had to learn how to attack and defend when his insects are not by his side.

Naruto just stood there plain and simple. He had his sword with him. He appeared to be not doing anything but just foolishly standing in the middle of the training grounds.

Sasuke faced himself with a tree, full of slashes, and he gripped a kunai in his hand, still training himself and his chakra to be in full control.

In the farthest and end of the room, unexpectedly there stood Akako. She stood as if she reigned over all of them. She was fully clothed in her red Kimono, complete with her red umbrella and high heeled getas.

"Why is the whole picture of the room….. so. . .wrong?" Kisame asked

"Well Naruto is just there standing, another one is on the ceiling, another struggling with the tree climbing, with two others handling a gang of clones and Akako-sama is here in the room." Deidara concluded.

"Not that, you dobe! I mean. It feels as if something is wrong with their positions." Kisame tilted his head.

"It's all a genjutsu." Sasori stated. "Naruto is the only one here inside the room." He added. Itachi eyed the Naruto standing in the middle. He hasn't improved a bit on genjutsu techniques.

Itachi quickly sent out a small simple chakra wave pulse out. Gone were the illusions, and all was replaced by an almost empty room except for the fact that Naruto still stood in the middle. His eyes are closed shut and his body stiff standing straight. One of his hands held a kunai, in case of emergency. The other kid doesn't seem to be in the room.

"Still busy at training. Even after all the work last night. The kid wants a death wish I see…"Kisame snarled and took the hilt of Samehada. Instantly unwrapping the huge sword, he walked toward Naruto with the Samehada positioned forward.

"Don't come near. I'm busy." Naruto said in a low voice and his face had a flash of grimace on them. His hold tightened on the kunai. "Make another step closer, I'll make sure to throw this kunai through your head." He added. Naruto's voice full of authority and command.

"We should not interfere with Naruto-sama in this state." Sasori said out to Kisame, stepping in before the situation worsens.

"But if this kid keeps this up. He'll be knocked up for the next three days." Kisame said tapping Samehada to his shoulder.

"Where are the others? Are they with you Naruto-dana?" Deidara asked out loudly to Naruto. Naruto merely shook his head and gave no more explanation.

"Don't you dare underestimate me, Kisame." Naruto said with the kunai pointed at Kisame. Kisame was shocked at the sudden turn of personality but Naruto is the gang's leader and he is expected to act all high and mighty from the other members.

"We'll talk later, Naruto-sama." Itachi said with a sigh, his eyes closed slowly and took a long look at Naruto before turning to walk away. Sasori followed first, tugging Deidara with him and Kisame went last and closed the doors.

"Naruto-kun is serious. Better not bother him for the while." Deidara stated with his arms crossed to his chest. Itachi nodded in agreement, bothering Naruto right now will be lethal. Not now when Naruto is finally showing his serious side.

"Maybe Naruto is up to something again…?" Sasori, shockingly, popped up THE question.

"Even Sasori doubts Naruto?" Kisame gasped out with his eyes widened in surprise.

"We all know Naruto, Kisame. He is not the one who does things when he knows that there is a better option. He might have planned up before he took the four in.." Itachi stated. The four was left to think about the endless possibilities that Naruto could be brewing up.

"They should be upstairs sleeping in the rooms. "

"Akako-san might have something to do with this. . .?" Deidara popped up another idea.

"All the more we shouldn't bother the brat then!" Kisame said as he stomped away from the group, Samehada in hand and gripped tight.

The three looked at one another before concluding their final say. When Naruto is serious and Akako-sama might be included in the situation, NEVER bother to get in the way or interrupt. Deidara took a last peek in the doors. Just to see Naruto sitting crossed legged on the floor, his hands settled on his knees. Around him a circle was formed out of red chakra and it formed seals and writings on the floor. In the middle it connected to Naruto and He would be covered with a temporary cloak of red Kyuubi chakra. Deidara immediately closed the door back and breathed in deeply to regain his composure.

"He was playing with Kyuubi's chakra again. . . that's why he didn't want us to interrupt." Deidara said, wiping off sweat on his forehead.

"Be thankful that you didn't take a step closer Kisame." Itachi said to the blue faced man.

"Or you would have been fried sushi! AHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAH~~" Deidara teased with his tongue stuck out to Kisame. The blond ran for his life as the blue man chased him with Samehada equipped.

"Akako-san might be training Naruto for the incoming exams. . .Well I think Naruto deserves to also have himself trained up for the Chunin examination." Itachi said as he walked away from the door, Sasori closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. Naruto also needed to train a bit for the exams.

XX XX XX XX XX XX XX

"CONTROL IT MORE! You need to have control over every single chakra I have. If you can't control it, then you can't use it." Akako stood tall in front of the grimacing Naruto. Naruto coughed out hard and deeply breathed in air.

"You should take a break for the while Naruto. It wouldn't have any effect if you damage your body." Akako bit back her urge to drive Naruto more. She helped the boy sit down on the floor and relax for a bit.

"N-No. . ."

"I know you want to continue Akako-san. That's why, we should continue." Naruto held Akako's hand and gripped it tight. He pulled himself up and wiped off the sweat on his face. Akako's eyes widened and she held in a gasp as Naruto pushed himself to stay standing.

"Let's move on." He said with a smile. With a nod of the head, Akako put on a serious face and continued on their training.

"We shall continue our training Naruto."

"Hai. Sensei!"

XX XX XX XX

The sun still up and high on the sky with the birds chirping out in merry melody. People on the streets were busy as they got to their regular work hours. The day is still sunny out, high in the morning and near noon time.

Unknowingly for the four missing ninjas, there were four guests in the house. Sleeping in their respective rooms, given by Naruto, the four genins slept to recuperate. They were required to sleep a full number of seven hours, according to Akako. Akako said that their bodies would need to adjust for their full on training the following day.

But one of them couldn't sleep at all. He kept turning on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position, hopelessly unable to sleep. Sasuke didn't have the energy to sleep nor did he have the energy to continue on training. He was neutral. He turned again to his side and tried to curl up in a position, comfortable enough for him to rest awhile. His onyx black eyes winked and kept themselves open, irritating the Uchiha boy to an extent. He closed them for a minute and felt the itching need to have them open. This was useless and Sasuke lied flat to his back with both hands resting on the back of his neck. He stared at the ceiling with no interest at all but forced consciousness. Unable to keep himself still for a minute, he decided there was no other way but to burn off his last energy then get some much needed rest.

Sasuke got up from the bed and got to the bathroom. He had his body calm down a bit after a long cooling bath. After dressing up he went outside his room, looking both ways, checking to see if the others were awake. Sasuke walked out and closed the room. The other three are still asleep and they will soon awake from their rest, Unlike Sasuke who had no rest time at all. He planned to walk out of the house without making any noise.

"Where do you think you are going, brat?" A voice behind him said, an arm slowly reaching out to touch his shoulder. Sasuke jerked around and got a kunai from his pouch.

"W-What the hell? Didn't you learn proper manners boy?" Kisame exclaimed as he pared Sasuke's kunai with a kunai of his own. Pushing a bit more, Sasuke's kunai flew out of his hand and Kisame pointed his kunai straight to Sasuke's face.

"Better learn some respect boy." Kisame stated as he withdrew his kunai and turned around. Sasuke exhaled out and moved to walk out of the house.

"It'll be better if you get some rest gaki! Or you'll regret it later. BWAHAHAHHAHA…" Kisame shouted out to Sasuke, his laugh echoing by itself. Unmoved by such statements, Sasuke brushed off the warning and walked out of the house.

"Better tell Naruto right away."

XXXXXXX

It was still a sunny clear day. The weather was a fairly cloudy, making it less hot from the sunny rays. People seem to rush here and there while shops and stands made themselves look all the more presentable. The Chunin Exams really didn't just affect genins and ninjas but they also had an effect to the economy and tourism of the place. Of course, business was blooming all over the place. This was a time to take to an advantage, a perfect time to gain positive points. But to Sasuke this was all the more important. This was a perfect chance to regain the reputation of the Uchiha clan.

"OIE GAKI! Did you know who you bumped into?" An angry boisterous voice shouted. There were moans heard and little kids shouting.

"Put him down! Please!"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Don't you watch where you are going?" Another shout came and from the same voice. Sasuke peered from the corner, watching to see who it was causing the fight.

Konohamaru was being held up in the air by his shirt's collar and scarf. The guy wore a black body suit with a hood, that had cat ears, and purple markings on his face. There was something rolled up in bandages being carried on his back. He wore black fingerless gloves and black ninja sandals with the usual kunai holster tied to his right thigh. Konohamaru's friends were with him, trying to tell the person to let go of Konohamaru and let them be.

"Answer me Gaki!" The person shouted as he shook Konohamaru. Sasuke couldn't take it and had to do something.

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"Onii-san! Please let our friend go!"

"Konohamaru-kun!"

"I won't let him go unti-" The shuriken flew straight to the person's arm, coming from above and from an unknown person. The person jerked back his hand and jumped backward to avoid the upcoming shurikens. Konohamaru was released the instant the shurikens was directed toward the person.

"W-What the hell!" He shouted. A puff of smoke appeared behind the person, the person who came out of it is a girl. With blond hair tied to four ponytails and she appeared to be carrying a large wooden object on her back.

"Kankuro! Where were you? I've been looking for you." The girl complained in a commanding and stern tone.

"This brat over here disturbed me!" Kankuro replied in defense. "Why isn't he with you Temari?" He added.

"Stop doing foolish things Kankuro." A small stone hit Kankuro's forehead. A swirl of sand appeared about the wall. A red haired boy came out of the swirl, wearing baggy brown clothes and carrying yet another large foreign object on his back.

"Come out!" The red boy shouted pointing to the nearby tree. Out came Sasuke from the tree. He stood up on the wall as did the red haired kid.

"Are you the one who threw those shurikens and stone earlier?" Kankuro shouted toward Sasuke. His face scrunched up in anger as a faint red mark remains on his forehead. Sasuke merely brushed off the question.

"What are you people doing?" Sasuke asked with a flat face.

"The kid bumped into me and-"

"Shut up Kankuro." The red head asked Sasuke with such a strong facial expression.

"Who are you?" His face hard and serious, his voice strong and demanding.

"Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke stood with the wind helping him with his cool dude attitude effect. "You?"

"My name is Temari from Sunagakure!" The blond girl said with a light stain of pink on her cheeks. Sasuke brushed off the spontaneous and irrelevant reply.

"What are suna ninjas doing here in Konoha?" Moegi shouted with an accusingly pointed finger.

"Well little girly! It's the Chunin Exams. Don't you people know of the upcoming events? Sheesh, what dumb idiots." Kankuro said out with a smartass voice. His head titled upward and his chest puffed out. Gaara used Body Flicker and swirled out of his sand , in between Temari and Kankuro.

"What do expect from academy students. Of course they aren't informed early."

"Where did he come from?"

The three Sunagakakure Ninjas titled their head upward. A Konoha Ninja stood up on the walls, crouched down as if it helped the leveling. His short brown hair long and covering the left side of his face. His ninja forehead protector was tied to his right arm. The male ninja wore standard clothing except with a little eccentricity. Before any of them could react or ask who the nosy ninja was, He left. He left using Body Flicker with the usual puff of smoke.

"Temari, Kankuro. We are going." The red head turned to walk away.

"Wait, what is your name?" Sasuke asked, standing his ground and commanding the Suna nin to tell his name.

"Gaara of Sunagakure." The red head cast a glance one more to Sasuke, his black eye rings and heavy glare. The red head transported up to the cement wall, the spot in where the random ninja left, and picked something up. Sand twirled and covered Gaara once more and the boy left with no trace.

"Tsk. Now we have to find him again." Kankuro said, turning his back against Sasuke and the kids.

"Let's go." Temari said and the two went and left in a hurry, in search for their teammate.

"T-They were scary. ." Moegi said clutching Konohamaru's shirt sleeve.

"We're fine. I'm fine. Suna Ninjas like those better watch out for Konoha Ninjas!" Konohamaru ranted making Sasuke smirk.

"Just watch out where you are running into, kid." Sasuke reminded.

"Thanks onii-san! B-but where is Naruto-niiichan anyways?"

"The dobe's busy training."

"AHH! I have to go and train myself too! Let's go Moegi, Udon." After having the Konohamaru corps gone, Sasuke body flicked up to the wall, standing at the spot where the suspicious ninja landed.

"Hn." Sasuke jumped down from the wall and walked away from the area.

XXXX

"It's good to see you again." The male figure stepped into the room.

"Me too. It's good to see an old friend again."

"This time we meet as equal ninjas."

"Yea we finally meet as ninjas." The person in the room said. Walking near to the person and placing a hand on the male's shoulder.

XXXX

The chapter's done. Whew finally.

First of all, I'd like to say: I'm Sorry to all of you.

Second would be: I know I have no right but please go easy on me on this one. As I said in one of my old chapter update. My grandfather (on the father side) died, on December 21,2010. It was a cold Christmas for our family. Then followed by the death of my other grandfather. (He's my grandmother's brother, on the mother side) that was on February 16,2011. It was a lonely Valentine's week and the family once again mourned for our beloved's death. After those events I just lost all energy to type and sadly I got writer's block. I tried to fight it off when summer came, March – May. But I failed to write something good to post up again. So please bear with me.

Third and the last would be: I'm fine now, If some of you are wondering. I'll be slowly updating things. School has started and it was a miracle that touched me to type again. I don't really care if I'd receive a feedback for this chapter, since I'm not really expecting much. I understand as a reader's point of view.

Thanks and I hope you guys will have me and my story back again