The long awaited Reunion...

Hiruzen then finally looked towards Orochimaru.

("I have been patient with Orochimaru all this time…")

("He still wishes to test my patience by attacking that boy")

("Next will probably be the last…. Even the Buddha loses patience when insulted or hit in the face three times.") Hiruzen thought.

…

"The Final Round is where each one of you will show off your battle skills in front of everyone."

"I want you to satisfactorily demonstrate and show off your ability as representative of your respective lands."

"Accordingly, the Final Round will commence one month from now."

"This is so that there's a suitable period of preparation."

"That is to say…"

"Along with the announcement of the conclusion of the preliminary match to each country's feudal lords and ninja leaders,"

"readying the summons for the Final Round requires preparation time…"

"not to mention the time it takes for you examinees to prepare."

("This old man always has such a roundabout way of saying things.") Kankuro thought as he interrupted Hiruzen.

"I don't quite get what you're trying to say."

"What do you mean?" Kankuro asked.

"In other words, in order to know your adversary, in order to prepare yourself, time is necessary."

"Time to analyze what you learned about the adversaries in the preliminaries… time to take stock of your successes."

"The battles until now were like actual battles it simulated situations in which you can't know your adversary,"

"However this is not the case in the Final Round."

"Some of you might have already revealed everything in front of your rivals…"

"So in the spirit of fairness and equality, you will have a month to train yourself to further your skills."

"Now that that's done…"

"I'd like to let you take your leave…"

"However there is one more important matter to take care of."

("This geezer!") Kankuro felt impatient.

At this moment, Anko approached in front of the Genins.

"I want you all to calmly take one slip of paper from the box that Anko is holding."

Hiruzen concluded.

…

"I'm going to go around in order…take only one" Anko said after which she walked towards all the ten contestants one by one.

Soon she had finished distributing the numbers.

"Good, everyone has taken a number."

"Then, from left to right, tell me the number on your slip of paper," Ibiki asked.

"I'm Eight!" Dosu said.

"I'm One!" Naruto said.

"I'm Four!" Sasuke said.

"I'm Ten!" Sakura said.

"I'm Seven!" Temari said.

"I'm Five!" Kankuro said.

"I'm Three!" Gaara said.

"I'm Nine!" Shikamaru said.

"I'm Two!" Neji said.

"I'm Six!" Shino said.

…

"Very Well, I will tell you about how the Final Round Tournament will work!" Hiruzen said after which he turned towards Ibiki.

"Ibiki, bring forth the pairings."

Ibiki walked to the front and displayed the pairings.

1st match - Naruto vs. Neji.

2nd match - Sasuke vs. Gaara.

3rd match - Kankuro vs. Shino.

4th match - Temari vs. Dosu.

5th match - Shikamaru vs. Sakura.

"The pairings indicate a chance of five Contenders surviving, in the case they survive, the remaining five will be made to draw lots again in which, the unlucky player would be made to fight another extra match."

("This is going to be troublesome, I have to fight a kunoichi; moreover, it is Sakura, and I thought Ino was a headache enough. It is such a drag…") Shikamaru thought.

("Good! I will use this one month to stand up to Naruto again!") Neji thought.

("Perfect! Gaara will be the perfect benchmark for my new training. I will make it to the top and face Naruto.") Sasuke thought.

("I'm so relieved to know that won't be in the same section as Gaara.") Kankuro thought.

"Could I ask a question?" Shikamaru raised his hand.

"Go ahead," Hiruzen said.

"Does this mean that there will only be one winner of the tournament?"

"That only one of us will be able to become a chuunin?" Shikamaru asked..

"The judges of the Final Round of which I am one will be made of the Kazekage, the Daimyo from various countries who will assign you your missions, and the Ninja Leaders."

"These judges will be able to make a thorough evaluation, and come to a decision as to whether each one of you possesses the qualities incumbent of a Chuunin."

"Even if someone loses the first round, they can still become a Chuunin," Hiruzen said.

"So there's a chance that all of us will become Chuunin?" Temari asked.

"Correct, but conversely there's also a chance that none of you will," Hiruzen replied.

"To 'advance' in the tournament, means maximizing chances to appeal yourselves to the judges."

"Hope, you've all understood the concept behind the final stage," Hiruzen asked as he looked towards all the Genin below.

Seeing no doubts across their faces, Hiruzen smiled.

"Thank You for your patience."

"We will adjourn until next month," Hiruzen concluded as he left the stage.

…

Naruto had no calms regarding the upcoming battle. His only worry was the invasion that was going to take place.

Sasuke ran towards Kakashi.

"I want you to train me over the next month, no matter what." Sasuke insisted as he looked towards Kakashi.

"Hmm…"

"Truthfully, I already had a plan regarding your training," Kakashi said.

"Then we have no time to lose!" Sasuke concluded and started running towards the Exit.

("Seems like the battles in the second stage has pushed him to this, though more than half of it is done by Naruto…") Kakashi thought as he looked towards Naruto.

"Naruto!"

"The Third passed a message saying that you are to wait in front of his office in another two hours."

"Yes! Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto saluted.

("Sometimes, I really do wonder if you are a kid or a grown-up boy.") Kakashi thought as he left the Tower.

"Karin!"

"Aren't you supposed to find your other two teammates?" Naruto asked as he turned towards Karin.

Karin hesitated as she looked towards Naruto. Sakura who stood by the side of both of them read the situation.

"Naruto! I will wait for you two outside the Tower" Sakura said as she began to run towards the exit.

"Sakura-chan…" Naruto tried to stop her, but she had already left.

…

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"The thing is…" Karin thought for a bit before she explained her situation.

….

"What? the grass village will give up on you if you failed the exam?" Naruto asked as he looked towards Karin with wide eyes.

"Yeah…" Karin said in a weak voice.

("Looks like she was taken in by Orochimaru under the excuse of providing a home to all the rejected ninjas under his wing in the sound village. I am not sure if it is right to save her since she did not exactly complain about being under him, though Sasuke's existence might have comforted her in the first place…")

Naruto thought for a minute.

Meanwhile, Karin admired his expression of being a bit thoughtful of her even though he liked someone else.

("Maybe I should convince the Third to make her stay in Konoha…") Naruto thought as he looked towards Karin.

"All right!"

"Follow me to the Hokage's office," Naruto said.

"Hokage's office?" Karin looked surprised.

….

About an hour and a half later.

Sakura had split off from Naruto and Karin as she wanted to go back home.

The duo continued till they had reached the spot.

"Wow!" Karin stared at the Hokage building.

"This is it!" Naruto said.

"This building is one of a kind…" Karin stared at the arcs on top of the building.

"Follow me inside!" Naruto said as he led Karin in.

…

After coming near the Top floor of the building…

Naruto froze as tears flowed down his face.

….

"How many years has it been since you returned to the village?" Hiruzen asked.

"Enough about that, I want to know more about Orochimaru's actions here in the village."

"…"

"I've been observing Orochimaru ever since he left the village…"

"It was obvious that he would return to this village sooner or later."

"All told, at first I was concerned only about him, but…"

"What is it?" Hiruzen asked.

"He joined an organization."

("If it is the same as Itachi, then it has to be that one.") Hiruzen thought.

"…"

"It's a small organization known as Akatsuki made up of nine ninjas."

"Until recently, they weren't making any dramatic moves except some cloak and dagger activities."

"But, the biggest concern is the members of the organization."

"Almost all of them are listed on the Bingo Book."

"All S-Rank deviant criminals. That Itachi is also among them…"

Hiruzen gesture with his hand for the man to continue.

"But recently, Orochimaru pulled out of the organization."

"And at that time, other members of the organization went in action in different areas, in pairs gathering jutsus and things."

"You're saying that Minato's child is on their list of fancy…"

"Yes!" The man concluded.

….

Meanwhile, outside the office.

"Why are you crying Naruto?" Karin asked with concern.

Naruto wiped his tears away and gave a radiant smile as he looked towards the Hokage's room door.

("IT'S PERVY-SAGE!")