"…I learned some intriguing truths about you Naruto, and found that you're more than what I previously thought you to be," Gaara said with the same deadpan expression. Kiba, Sasuke, and the other rookies saw the tension between Naruto and Gaara. Sasuke sensed that there was something strong about Gaara, though he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Hey," Sakura said. "You're that same Suna-nin that my team and I saw the other day."
Gaara turned to Sakura and replied with sharp bloodlust, "I have no interest in you or in that Uchiha over there. My attention is set on Uzumaki Naruto."
Sakura backed away after being hit with Gaara's bloodlust. The others stood their ground, but stayed cautious of what they thought might happen. Gaara turned back to Naruto and said, "You will be my greatest conquest."
"Gaara!" Kankaro called out, grabbed his younger brother's attention, "You're drawing unwanted attention to both us and yourself!"
Gaara turned to Kankuro with a hard gaze. The older male hid his nervousness as he maintained a strong front. Temari appeared and said, "Gaara, you'll have us disqualified if you start fights outside the rules of the Chuunin Exams. Baki-sensei won't be pleased should that happen."
Gaara relented and said, "We'll meet again soon, Naruto."
The Suna Jinchuuriki turned and walked off, leaving the other Konoha Genin confused and at the same time worried. Sasuke didn't like how Naruto was being looked at as trophy fighter that foreigners wanted to challenge while he, Sasuke, was shoved to the side as uninteresting news. Though Kankuro also wanted to challenge and fight Naruto, unlike Gaara, he didn't want to publicize it.
"That guy looks dangerous," Tenten remarked. "Not to mention crazy."
"You're telling me," Ino said after returning back herself and joining the others.
"Hey cutie," Temari greeted Naruto flirtatiously as she went over and stood in front of him as Hinata subtly moved and stood closely next to Naruto at his right. Temari grinned upon seeing the reaction she got out of Hinata, which didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"Did that girl just refer to Naruto as "cutie"?" Chouji asked incredulously.
"She did, and evidently Naruto and his team seem to have some sort of history with these Suna Genin," Shikamaru said in boredom.
"It's nice to you again," Temari said with a feminine smile. "I was hoping to run into you before the start of the Chuunin Exams today."
"You were?" Naruto asked in some surprise.
"But you were unavailable so I wasn't able to meet you again," Temari said.
"Why did you wan-t to meet Naruto-kun a-again?" Hinata asked, though she already knew what Temari might say.
"I heard some funny things about him, something along the lines of pranking the ninja of this village and his teammates," Temari replied.
"You heard about that?" Naruto asked.
"One store owner told me that you painted and vandalized the entire Hokage Monument underneath everyone's nose and that even the team of ninja sent after you weren't capable of even catching you," Temari laughed. "I couldn't help but wonder how you managed to pull that off."
"That was nothing, I've done far worse than that," Naruto chuckled.
"I heard. He even told me how you occasionally pranked the Hokage and the Rookie of the Year," Temari laughed.
"Would this store owner happen to be Teuchi?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, that's the guy! He seems to be quite taken by you Naruto," Temari added. "Back home, your pranks would have gotten you into so much trouble, especially with my father."
"You mean the Kazekage," Naruto acknowledged. "Gee, some people don't appreciate good jokes."
"Your idea of jokes weren't amusing to your victims Naruto," Sasuke remarked.
"But they were for everyone else, who got good laughs out of them. My friend Rock Lee enjoys my sense of humor," Naruto replied.
"Naruto-kun, your humorous spirit radiates with youthful flares that sadly aren't appreciated by many," Lee remarked.
"But you're one of the few who does, which is why I like sparring with you from time to time," Naruto said.
"You actually spar with this guy?" Sasuke asked.
"And why not? Lee is…how can I put this…." Naruto contemplated. "…a genius."
"A genius?" Sasuke asked skeptically.
"Yes, a genius of hard work," Naruto said with a large smile.
"A genius of hard work?" Ino asked. "There exists no such classification!"
"You're wrong!" Lee shouted indignantly. "So many blindly believe that geniuses are born or gifted by fate! Naruto-kun and I don't share the belief of such unyouthful people, and it's through our burning youth that we exceed all expectations of us!"
"…Why did you have to get him started Naruto?" Tenten sighed.
"You there, the one in the green spandex. Quiet down a bit, will ya?" spoke a voice that caught all twelve rookies' attention as they turned to the source, only to see a young man with white hair wearing purple clothes and glasses. "You're attracting too much attention to this area and I would prefer not be made a target just yet."
"And just who might you be, four eyes?" asked Kiba, as neither he nor anyone else for that matter had seen that kid before, despite him having a Konoha headband on.
"You guys must be this year's rookies. I'm Kabuto. Take a look around," Kabuto advised, and the Konoha rookies did. There were scowling and downright unfriendly faces all around.
"Those behind you are from Amegakure. They are famous for their short tempers. If you aren't careful, they might kill you," Kabuto said. "But I can't blame any of you. This is your first time and all. How about I give you guys a few pointers?"
Sasuke frowned.
"Kabuto-san," Sakura asked, "Is this your second try?"
"Actually, this is my seventh. There are two exams each year, so this is my fourth year," Kabuto replied.
"So you know a lot about this exam?" Kiba asked.
"I do," Kabuto said and pulled out a stack of cards. "I have collected all I know of the exams and put them on these special info cards that I created. They are blank until I pump my chakra into one of them, making the information visible."
Kabuto crouched down. He laid a card on the ground, making it swirl and in a moment, the blank surface was replaced with a map.
"This is the map of the shinobi lands, and which villages that have sent how many teams. I have information on them all, although on the team from Oto I don't know much. It's a new village, and it's their first time in the exams," Kabuto said.
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