Pre-Chunin Exams

Training. Training. And more training, that's all that Sasuke has been doing in these past days.

Sleepless nights. Day and night he trained in sweat and cold. He steeled his resolve every time wavering thoughts came by.

Fatigue would crash on him like an airplane, still... He would get back up gritting his teeth. Sasuke knew his first obstacle: Rock Lee.

Sasuke trained not twice but thrice the amount of that he usually does, Lee was someone who would even train in his sleep... He is what you call an ʼEnemy'

An enemy to his growth, an enemy that should be subsumed with all his might... No matter the consequences.

Whether it hurt him or... Any unfortunate accidents, it was something that Sasuke needed to do, and he would.

Friends or not, show no mercy.

"Ca...n't give up... Now!"

Struggling to continue, Sasuke once again fought against his body, his mind and body were clashing, one reluctant to rest, the other wanting to continue until he blanked out.

"Haa!"

A final struggle before Sasuke's consciousness was swept away. He knew he had only 2 months, but every little improvement was important to him.

***

The days continued like that, Sasuke set aside Ino for the whole two months, he had no time for little snuggles and hugs.

Team seven gathered on a bridge, Naruto and Sakura were on time… Unlike a certain White haired man.

*Puff*

"I've got good news my fellow students!"

The trio sighed, Kakashi was late as usual… tho he looked really serious this time, they paid no mind to it.

"What is it, Kakashi-Sensei?"

Naruto asked, eiger to know what Kakashi held for them. A new mission? Maybe a new Jutsu? Mayb-

"I'm going to recommend team seven for the Chunin-exam!"

The veteran ninja eye smiled as he stated that. The trio just nodded, not really riled up or surprised about it.

"See ya"

Sasuke waved his arm in the air and headed out, Naruto and Sakura also went their ways for their respective training sessions.

Kakashi just stared into the sky with a deadpan expression.

'And here I am, sitting like a fool holding a mission scroll'

Kakashi sighed, these kids were never patient enough. Kakashi went to complete the D-Rank mission by himself.

***

It was a day before the Chunin exams, Naruto and Sasuke were strolling through the streets exchanging some small talks.

"Hey! L-Let me go!"

Naruto snapped his head toward the source, his eyes narrowed seeing the victim being held by a kid no less than his age.

"Konohamaru?"

"Huh? Who's that?"

Naruto shook his head in response and neared the person who was holding Konohamaru collar in the air.

"Oi! What do you think you're doing?"

Naruto asked the kid infront of him, the guy was wearing a fully black outfit and his face had purple markings on them.

"Huh!? Who are you, punk!?"

"I can ask you the same"

Naruto snapped, he took a step forward with his eyes bulging threateningly.

"Let the boy go... Or else"

"Or else what?"

The purple-marking kid responded with a cocky smirk, Naruto flashed and reappeared behind his head, with a swift kick, he sent him flying across.

"Big brother Naruto! I-I was so scared!"

"Don't worry, it's alright now"

Sasuke just watched the scene with a bucket of popcorn in his hand, it sure was entertaining.

"Urgh"

"Kankurooo!!"

A girl with blonde hair, tied into four ponytail rushed toward Kankuro at high speed. Kakauro, on the other hand was groaning as he got up.

"Are you alright?"

"I... I'm fine, temari"

Temari quickly supported him to stand up, Naruto's kicks weren't nothing to be scoffed at, they really do pack a punch.

Sasuke glanced at the nearby tree, a kid with red-hair and teal-colored eyes with no eyebrows was standing upside down on the trunk.

Naruto and Konohamaru also glanced at the direction, the latter took a step back seeing the look in the red-haired kid's eyes.

A whirlwind of sand appreared in front of Sasuke, it slowly materialized into the same kid!

'Oh, I've heard of him... Gaara of the sand, from the wind nation'

"Gaara!"

Kankuro and Temari quickly stood by his side, the sand trio eyed Sasuke and Naruto like there was no tomorrow.

"You..."

Gaara pointed his finger at Sasuke.

"Mother wants to know your name… what is it?"

"My name? Orochimaru"

Gaara narrowed his eyes before walking away. Naruto deadpanned.

"Very well Orochimaru, I will feed my mother with your blood, let us see at the Chunin exams"

Sasuke waved his hands in the, dismissing his stupid threats. Kankuro stood there, staring at Naruto.

"I'll kill you, blonde"

Naruto released a bit of bloodlust before approaching Kankuro.

"Try me… I'll crush you so bad, you'll get PTSD just thinking about my name"

Temari and Kankuro backed away a bit before following Gaara. Naruto then shifted his head toward Sasuke.

"Orochimaru, are you prepared?"

"Oh please, shut up"

The duo chuckled before heading their seperate ways, Konohamaru following Naruto.

"Wow! That was soooo coool!! Teach me how to do that!!"

Naruto pondered for a but before ruffling the kid's hair.

"Maybe next time, Konohamaru"

The grandson of the third Hokage pouted, he punched Naruto's leg before running away.

The blonde just smiled before heading back.

'I see, not everyone has a dark heart… It just takes time to spread across the darknesss within oneself'

****

A/N: My ears have started bleeding these past days… sorry, I'll upload whenever I can, the doc said it'll take time to heal… apparently, there's a small scar inside my ear that needs time to heal. It's kinda getting a bit more painful nowadays.