Hinata sensei

He made sure to get everything he would need cuz he didn't know what to expect from the exams. He got all his ninja tools and double checked to make sure he had everything he didn't want to leave a stone unturned. When he was on his way out Hinata give him a scroll.

"What is this exactly?"Naruto asked her wondering why she was giving him this scroll.

" it is lunch for you and your team"she answered.

"thank you Hinata Chan"

Naruto said with a smile

"Please be careful, Naruto-kun. The exams are dangerous if you're not careful; you could be killed. I wouldn't be able to face your parents if such a thing happened." She said worriedly.

"You have nothing to worry about. You worry too much. I'll pass these exams with flying colors, you'll see! I'll catch up to you soon enough." Yes, he would. He was determined to become a Chunin, which would be a stepping stone to his goal.

The goal of Hinata was seeing him as a man instead of a boy. As long as he stayed as he was, he had no chance at all. He may have succeeded in making her laugh a few days ago, but he had a long way to go if he was ever going to have a chance with her.

"I'll make you proud"Naruto said and then he left, not looking back, not wanting Hinata to notice that he was blushing.

"You could not have made it more obvious that you desire her if you tried," Kyubi said to him teasingly.

"There's nothing wrong with it; she's an attractive woman, which is obvious there's nothing wrong with you being sexually attracted to her—it's quite natural for a teenager like you. I would be worried if you weren't."

Naruto didn't really want to hear it. "I'm just a boy I have no chance," Naruto said, wanting to drop the topic.

"Do you know your father, your grandfather, and your great-grandfather do you know what they all have in common?" Kyubi asked.

"What do I have in common with my father and my grandfather and great-grandfather? What does that have to do with my feelings towards Hinata sensei?" Naruto asked wanting him to get to the point.

"For some reason the males in your family have a thing for older women, not that I have any problems with that great taste; there's nothing better than a mature woman. But what I don't understand is why they would go for younger men?"Naruto wanted to know when he would get to the point.

"Does this have a point?"Naruto asked getting sick and tired of him being teased about his feelings for Hinata.

"A blind man can see that you have strong and deep feelings for this woman. You are lucky; you have no competition because you would lose. There's a lot of men who are eyeing her, but she has no interest in them. Lucky you because you would have no chance as you are. She is a boy, she has a lot of options. She did have any man she wants. Not only does she have a nice body, but there's aspects of her personality that makes her appealing as well. If only she were to show her true self more to people, she would have a line of fanboys. You would have no chance whatsoever. You are lucky she is the way she is."

Kyubi said in a more serious tone unlike the teasing one from earlier.

"you don't need to remind me that I'm just a boy I know that why do you have to constantly remind me?"Naruto asked wanting to not talk about the conversation.

"This is not going to be easy for you to hear, Kit. Your actions a few days ago have made it quite obvious to those who aren't blind that you would not have gone as far as you did if you were in love with Hinata. You may deny it; you may say it's anything but love, but I know what I see. I've seen it with my previous host before. I know the signs. I noticed it with your mother when your father made her laugh for the first time and how she fell in heels in love with him. Though unlike you, your father was 3 years older than you are now - quite a strange relationship that was."

Kyubi said remembering how it all happened as if he was there to witness it first hand.

"was my father really my mother's student? I have a difficult time believing that."Naruto said not believing what he had been hearing.

"for generations the men on your side of the family have fallen in love with their sensei I don't know what it is. I don't understand why women would go for a younger man but it happens I think it's a tradition that goes back centuries your father would probably know unfortunately he's not alive to ask."

Kyubi said apologetically.

"How did my dad make mom laugh?"

Naruto asked generally wanting to know.

"I don't know your mother wasn't necessarily let's just say someone that I regularly talk to you it would be best if you ask people who knew them though that would probably be difficult. to understand how your mother laughed you would have to know about her past which is something I have not much knowledge about. My previous host and I rarely spoke; it wasn't encouraged so unfortunately, kid, I can't tell you anything."

Kyubi said to Naruto that he had no information about his father's other sensei, Jiraiya. Perhaps he could ask him, but the chances of running into Jiraiya were low. He wasn't in Konoha; his father left for an extended period of time, and it would be 6 years before he saw his mom again. There was so much more to the story than Naruto knew; he needed answers, and he wanted answers about his parents.

There was also the Hokage, who he would probably know. Part of him was angry with him because of the secret that he kept from him for all these years, despite him understanding why it still didn't make him any less angry.

He was getting close to his destination, where his team was. He was eager not to continue with this conversation; he did not want to hear this, especially when he wanted to focus on exams.

"If the gentle Minato could get together with your mother, who had a reputation for bashing men's skulls and who even tried to hit on her and spoke her mind to any man that tried to degrade her. I think you would have a better chance than any man, especially considering the kind of woman Hinata is isn't that much different from your mother; yes she's gentle and kind but she has a side of her that doesn't put up with any man's shit. I like that in a woman; I admire it. She's probably the best possible option for you as your mate." This was starting to get annoying to Naruto.

"Hinata is just a friend that's all she ever will be."he said trying to convince himself.

"you don't actually believe that do you?" he asked him.

" Can we just drop this for now?"Naruto asked him.

"fair enough besides you're getting close to your team anyway just take what I said into consideration what your feelings towards this woman are you must come to terms with it sooner rather than later you never know when another man may have an eye on her and she actually goes for it" Kyubi finished and let Naruto absorb everything that he had just said.

Naruto did not want to imagine that he couldn't it was ridiculous Hinata with another man? That was absurd. He pushed that ridiculous side aside he met up with his team Sasuke looked like he was irritated Kagome looked excited.

"About damn time it took you forever to let's go"Kagome said eager to enter the exam Sasuke and Naruto were the same he couldn't wait to test the fruits of his training. So many new skills that he had learned and couldn't wait to unleash them.

The more Hanabi sees Naruto interact with her sister, the more she is convinced that Naruto is completely in love with her. Those eyes do not fool her. He probably isn't aware of it yet and he probably wouldn't be for at least a year, perhaps more, but it was there. As for her sister, she is likely not aware to what extent his feelings for her are. She was told by her father once that Kushina when she was his sensei looked at Minato in a different way than her other students. She looked up the family history. Naruto's family history, especially on his father's side, always falls in love with their sensei. It happened with Minato's father, Naruto's grandfather, whose history has repeated itself generation after generation.

It was ridiculous but she couldn't deny it considering what has been happening in real time. Naruto's feelings for Hinata had been growing, and her sister had smiled and laughed for the first time in years a few days ago thanks to Naruto doing everything to make her laugh.

Her feelings about it are mixed; Naruto is just a boy while Hinata is a woman. Though she knows that Naruto won't always be a boy, he was willing to risk going his entire life without ramen just to see her sister smile and hear her laugh. He was even willing to risk angering the entire village and inciting the wrath of it on him just to make one woman laugh.

If that couldn't convince her that Naruto was in love with her sister, then nothing would. His actions speak for themselves; the lengths he's willing to go to make her sister smile. It was obvious to everyone in the village that he had a crush on her when he laid his eyes on her for the first time after team 7 was first formed, but love is something she had noticed almost as soon as she started reconciling with her sister.

It was subtle at first; she noticed his eyes, how they reacted every time he wasn't instructed to do something and praised him or critiqued his performance. The way he acted around her sister versus everyone else was overwhelming evidence that the seeds were planted for her sister falling in love with him down the road, though it was a ways off and would not happen as he is now - just a boy.

She couldn't focus on that though at the moment. She shoved those thoughts deep into the depths of her mind right now, her main concern was getting to her team. Regardless about how she feels about her clan and father right now, her big priority was the exams; she wanted to see all the results of her training that she has made. How far has she come?

"Be careful, Hanabi. The exams are dangerous, especially the second one. Don't be careless, please!" Hinata said softly to her.

"You worry too much, big sis. I can look after myself and my team will be there for me. I'll be fine!" Hanabi replied, trying to alleviate Hinata's worries.

"I would be a terrible sister if I weren't worried," she replied back.

"Stay safe, Hinata" Hanabi said before she left.

"You too," she replied.

She headed out, knowing she would likely be fighting someone from Team 7 during the exams. Regardless, she couldn't lose to anyone—not even her own sister's team. She had to prove to herself and her clan how far she had come. She met her team.

"Are you ready for the exams, Hanabi?" Shino asked.

"I'm more than ready for the exams. I could tell you that much." Kiba added.

"Just a question: Why weren't you at the compound like you normally are? Why did we meet you close to where your sister lives?" Shino asked, suspecting that something was going on with her clan.

"I'd rather not talk about that. I would rather focus on the exams."

Hanabi said, cutting him off.

"Well those bastards better not have done anything to you or I'll," Kiba didn't get a chance to finish before he was gently elbowed by Shino.

"She'll tell us when she wants to." he said, looking at Hanabi nonverbally, suspecting something was up.

"I can't wait to wipe those smiles from the smug faces of those people who have looked down on my clan for so long." Kiba said excitedly.

"Your biggest problem, Kiba, is your cocky attitude. You underestimate your opponents, which is why people look down on you. It's not because of your clan; it's because of you." Shino pointed out.

"Well, I'm certainly not going to lose to Naruto. That's for sure." Kiba said.

"Neither will I." Hanabi agreed.

"I'm not going to lie; it was kind of funny how Naruto pissed off the entire civilian council. I never liked those assholes, and to think some of them were pedophiles makes me sick. The thing that I was taught by those fuckers yuck." Kiba said contemptuously over some of the members he was taught by.

"I don't know if I approve of Naruto's methods for exposing them, but anything that makes the children safer from predators works with me." Shino.

"How do you feel about Naruto and Hinata, Hanabi?" Kiba asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Hanabi said, ignoring the question.

"Come on, you must know Naruto better than us. Anyway, you're the one who gave him ideas to make Hinata-sensei laugh. Be honest with us. We all knew he had a crush on her, but I believe it's far more than that. I could smell it." Kiba said in a tone turning more serious.

"It certainly is obvious I could tell by his body language, how his eyes light up whenever he talks about her. The lengths to which he goes to please her and the kind of respect he gives to her are not something someone does for a simple crush." Shino knows this and pointed out agreeing with Kiba.

"I don't care really, as long as he doesn't break her heart. I don't care one way or another."

Hanabi said, trying to end the conversation.

"Is he a little too young? No offense, Hanabi. Naruto is like a boy compared to Hinata-sensei, who's a woman; he absolutely has no chance." Kiba said.

"Everybody said that about Minato regarding his sensei, and well we know how that turned out." Shino said reminding Kiba about what had historically happened.

"Let's also not forget that Kushina was 10 years older than Minato, and their age gap got bigger when they got together. I don't see how Naruto would have less of a chance than his father." Shino remarked.

"I'm sorry, it's just weird. I can never imagine me and our sensei. It's just wrong." Kiba said.

"Well, it's none of our business as long as it doesn't happen until Naruto is of age. It's not our problem." Hanabi cut the conversation short.

"You're right. We should be heading to the exams, not having this conversation that's not relevant to our immediate goal." Shino said, agreeing with Hanabi.

"Let's get going, we don't want to be late." Hanabi ordered her team. She was the unofficial leader of Team 8 when her sensei wasn't around; they didn't argue against her. The one thing that concerned her most though was her cousin Neji—they would come to blows one way or another it was inevitable she would have to steal herself from him; she couldn't lose—not even to Neji. They headed to the building where the first exam would take place; nothing else mattered at this moment to her except getting there.

Hakobe made sure there was no one around she couldn't go on this mission without at least seeing her daughter Tanuki. The child's father was with her. Root did not know about her existence and they wanted to keep it that way. When she was pregnant about 2 years ago her then boyfriend came up with an a plausible lie in order to conceal her pregnancy. If there's one thing she was afraid of more than anything was Danzo getting a hold of her child. She wanted Sumire to have a normal childhood.

She wasn't as fanatically dedicated to Root as her husband was but she supported their goals all the same even more so Since Sumire was born. She left her child with her parents who knew full well her associations and understood. Her husband didn't approve but there was no choice; their secret could not be known. They entered the house; her parents didn't particularly like her husband but they accepted him reluctantly because he was Sumire's father.

"Hakobe, I'm so happy to see you your daughter misses you"her mother said to her.

She gave her mother of bear hug despite her training she couldn't let go of her love of her family. Her mother looks like an older version of herself what she would look like when she reaches the age of 40. Her father it was difficult for people to believe that they were related her father had short black hair his hair was graying due to him being in his sixties there was a huge uproar at the time considering the massive age gap between her father and mother but it never mattered to her they loved each other and that was enough.

Her father was holding her 2-year-old daughter who was ecstatic to see her mother "mama" the 2-year-old said he handed her Sumire this precious little child that she was holding in her hands she was the reason why going on missions and doing the dirty work that no one else would want to do for Root was easier this child was who she was fighting for the future so she can be safe.

"where's papa?"the girl asked her husband walked beside her despite his cold demeanor that he gives off most of the time when it came to her and their daughter he always showed his soft side.

"I'm here my little flower"he said smiling the only people he ever smiled for was for her and Sumire to him they were all that mattered.

They would have to leave soon because they would be late, but she couldn't leave without at least seeing her daughter. They wouldn't see her for a while, especially with the upcoming operation.

"Mother, father, there's something I need to ask of you. Don't ask questions; I can't answer them. Leave the village. Take Sumire somewhere safe. I'll send a raven when it's safe to return."

Her mother was looking at her worryingly, "What's going on?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that. Your safety is all that matters, please just listen to me." She looked at her little girl, who was holding in her arms.

She hated doing this to her parents. "Is there any reason what's wrong? What's going on?" asked her father. "I can't answer whatever questions you have, you know that."

Her parents were Shinobi, retired though still active. As long as they reported to the Hokage that they could inform him that they were going on vacation, they'd be put on leave. They'd be away long enough by the time the operation was over for it to be safe for them to return.

"We worry about you since you've joined that organization. You've been distant from us," they looked at her husband non-verbally showing their contempt for him. They hated Root and everything it stood for.

Her relationship with her family was almost non-existent until she was pregnant and she was forced to stop going on missions for 6 months. This was at a time where she focused mostly on research like her husband normally does in order to cover up the real reason she didn't go on missions. This is when she started reconciling with her parents when her daughter was born there was no other place safe than with them. She had other siblings but they were dead and the story officially was that Sumire was their granddaughter from one of her dead siblings.

"We will pack our things as soon as possible, but can you at least stay for a little bit?" her father asked. She shook her head.

"I can't, and you know why. You've been a Shinobi." They understood without her saying it. It pained her that she barely had time with her child; she would love nothing more than to retire from being a Shinobi entirely and spend it as a mother full-time if it meant she could spend time with her daughter.

"We have to go," her husband reluctantly said. He wanted to stay with their daughter. He didn't want to leave Sumire with her parents but there was no choice. If she stayed for too long Root would discover her existence and that's something they couldn't allow.

"I don't want you to go, mama, papa" the 2-year-old girl was crying. It broke her heart to see her daughter this way but she couldn't do anything. She was in the heart of the beast; she couldn't turn back even if she wanted to. She was fully dedicated to Donzo's cause until her daughter was born; what he would do to her if he ever found out. Her husband's dedication never changed though it was as fierce as it ever was; if she had to choose between her daughter or her husband, who would she choose? She prays she never has to find out.

Despite attachments being discouraged, she was only human and so was her husband. They weren't the only members of Root that have given into their human impulses. It was a contradiction; she knew the logic behind it: the next generation would carry on the torch of Roots ideas. She didn't want her daughter to have anything to do with those ideas; she wanted her to have a normal life.

"We will be back before you know it, my little flower" she said to her. She sang a lullaby that her mother once sung for her when she was a baby which caused her daughter to fall asleep. She handed her back to her mother; she turned her back but not without hearing a word from her father.

"At some point, you're going to have to decide what's truly important: family or ..." He didn't need to say it; she knew she couldn't be there to face her parents. She left.

Before they met up with Sai, her husband said things to her: "We're doing this for her." He said it to reassure her.

"I don't know, Tanuki. What are we truly fighting for? Are we fighting for our daughter's future? Are we fighting for the furthering of Donzo's ambitions? He says that we are doing this for the good of the village, but are we?"

She said doubtfully he didn't look pleased by her doubts,"He is fighting for a better future, those fools that currently run this village. What good have they done for us? Danzo Sama is a visionary, our village is weak and vulnerable and the pathetic will of fire doctrine. What has it done for us? My dedication to Danzo has never been stronger but now having a daughter to fight for I'm fighting for her future too. This village we will rip out the rotten Roots and make our village stronger than ever. That is the goal of Root. You believed in those ideas once, what has happened?" He asked her disappointed of her doubts.

Hakobe answered her husband's question. "Sumire is what happened, things are not the same. I never expected to be a parent at such a young age. I had a lot of time to think about these things, especially when I was pregnant with our daughter. I just don't know anymore: What are we truly fighting for?" Her husband looked conflicted; his love for her and his devotion to Donzo were in conflict.

"Put those thoughts aside for now; right now, we have to be on our mission. Sai is waiting for us." He said coldly, going back to the cold persona that her husband was known for. She put on her mask of a cold woman that people think she is. She had a mission and the only thing that mattered right now was her daughter. She would do everything in her power to protect her.

Sai was waiting for them near the entrance, looking bored. He was reading an interesting book. She thought that someone would have something like this despite being discouraged to have such things.

"You two have taken forever. I was wondering if you would show up." he said in cold indifference.

"Whatever you know, what is our mission?" she asked her companion. Like him, he wore what was expected of someone at the rank of Genin. He didn't wear anything that particularly stood out; he wore a gray vest with tan-colored shorts and two pouches on both sides.

They all wore the same thing, though there were differences to various degrees. She changed her clothing for what she was wearing earlier: purple on top and black on bottom; purple and black were her colors when she was a Genin. She dyed her hair red in order not to be recognized. Her husband did the same, though his colors were all black and his hair was brown (which wasn't much different from his actual hair color).

All they had to do now was not draw attention and blend in, or else they would get into fights. Otherwise, their skills would be obvious that they're not Genin; lastly, the last thing they needed was to have their mission compromised.

Any doubts that she had earlier were gone when she was on a mission. She had no time to think; the most important thing at the moment was ensuring all the planning Donzo had been doing for the past 40 years finally came to fruition.

Momo made sure no one was around before she took out the orb that she carried, revealing Kanna. She looked surprised by her reporting so soon but couldn't delay reporting about one of the Lost children who felt out of place in the Hyuga clan. She had to report this: a child like Yui couldn't be ignored, especially since she was lost.

"Momo, this better be important." Kanna said like a mother who was displeased with her child.

"I wouldn't report this mother if it wasn't important; there's a lost soul in the human clan who has usamaki ancestry. I think she would be susceptible to our cause."Momo said softly.

"Who is this woman?" Kanna asked, intrigued.

"She's a Hyuga with Usamaki here. She has the mixture of both Usamaki and Hyuga features. She's your descendant, just like Hinata. She's a lost soul. She is desperate for acceptance but her clan will never accept her despite how hard she tries. I think your wisdom could save her." Momo said with confidence.

"I wish to know her name." she asked

"Her name is Yui."Momo answered,

She looked like she was in deep thought. She was like that for what seemed like an eternity until Kanna spoke again,

" I will decide for myself if I have to physically meet her, I will. Despite my seal of my eyes, I am more than capable of defending myself against followers of that heretic Natsu." she said with contempt. She doesn't know about Natsu; she doesn't ask.

"You leave? But mother, this place isn't safe. Evil." She was cut off gently.

"I'm not defenseless, Momo. Despite my lack of eyesight, I am far stronger than these children of Konoha. Do not worry about my child; I will focus on this woman you have told me about. I will see for myself if she is truly as losses as you say. Your mission is to focus on keeping an eye on Sasuke Uchiha. Remember: do not engage with Orochimaru under any circumstances; he's too strong for you and I don't want his taint to touch you." Kanna said worriedly about her well-being.

"She's a Hyuga with Usamaki here. She has the mixture of both Usamaki and Hyuga features. She's your descendant, just like Hinata. She's a lost soul. She is desperate for acceptance but her clan will never accept her despite how hard she tries. I think your wisdom could save her." Momo said with confidence.

"I wish to know her name." she asked

"her name is Yui"Momo answered.

she looked like she was in deep thought she was like that for what seemed like an eternity until Kanna spoke again.

" I will decide for myself if I have to physically meet her, I will. Despite my seal of my eyes, I am more than capable of defending myself against followers of that heretic Natsu." she said with contempt. She doesn't know about Natsu; she doesn't ask.

"The exams are about to begin. Get into your position and remember: Do not draw attention to yourself." Kanna warned.

Her image disappeared and Momo was left wondering what her mother said she would be in Konoha. She had to get to the exam building; she had to observe what was going on. She did a jitsu that changed her appearance so that it looked like one of the instructors'. They wouldn't notice the difference, and if by some small chance they did, she would be long gone. Espionage was her mission, and as long as she didn't draw attention to herself, they wouldn't know they had one of Kanna's children in their ranks.

Sasuke noticed someone following them. He turned around and saw a strange boy wearing a green jumpsuit with his headband at his waist, and wrappings on his hands. "Sasuke Uchiha! I've been eager to test my self against you!" Sasuke didn't think anything of it; he's had many people challenge him over the years, but never someone dressed so ridiculously.

"This boy is strange," said Kagome. He looked at her with a smile. "Out of all the girls, you are the most beautiful." Sasuke couldn't believe it; he went straight to her and took her hand gently. "Thanks," she said awkwardly. "What's your name?" he asked her.

"Kagome Takahashi,"she answered. He said her name over and over again as if to remember it. "I hope you're as strong as you are beautiful, Kagome." What the hell was going on, Sasuke thought.

"Isn't it kind of rude not to introduce yourself after a lady introduces her name?" he heard his teammate chastise him. She is a girl with brown hair. She wears a pink sleeveless qipao-style blouse with red sleeve trimmings and yellow fastening buttons, and dark green pants. A pouch is adjusted to her thigh, and her forehead protector and sandals are both blue.

"Oh sorry, Tenten. I got too into the moment. I backed away, giving you some space."

"My name is Rock Lee, and I would like to challenge you, Sasuke Uchiha."

Sasuke did not know who this person was; nobody challenged him like this unless they were foolish or they were confident they could win.

"Are you sure you want to challenge me? I was on the top of my class this year." Sasuke asked him, not really interested in challenging anyone. This boy was beneath his notice.

"What about me? I'll give you a challenge," Naruto said, feeling annoyed for being ignored.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not interested." Lee declined.

"I can give you a good fight," Naruto said, still irritated that he was being ignored. Naruto got to his fighting stance and went straight at Lee. He was about to knock Naruto down but Naruto dodged.

He went at him again, punching him. He blocked his blow as Naruto jumped over him and did hand signs that created two shadow clones. Closing his eyes, he tried to sense which clone was the real Naruto before striking at it. Naruto was knocked against the wall, but Sasuke got in between them before he could continue fighting.

"I'll take care of this Naruto, he's obviously too much for you" Sasuke said arrogantly.

"Bastard! I was just getting warmed up. I can take him." Naruto said irritatedly.

"I see you are more than what you appear to be. What is your name?"

He asked as a form of respect to Naruto. "Naruto Uzumaki," he answered.

"I'm impressed with your skills, not bad but I don't got time to fight all of you. I just want to fight Sasuke. I hope we get a chance to fight in the exams itself." Naruto lit up as if he was excited at the prospect of fighting him; what was it about this strange person that Naruto found so intriguing?

"You have my interest now I'll give you my time but know that you'll likely be completely humiliated" this did not do anything to Rock Lee if anything this only made him bolder,

"I've always wanted to prove that hard work overcomes natural talent. Everyone wants to talk about how gifted the Uchihas are, my sensei has beaten Kakashi, one of the most talented ninjas of his generation, about 50% of their bouts. You're going to learn a hard lesson today, Sasuke."Sasuke wasn't concerned; he's heard that talk before.

He activated his Sharingan. This would end very fast as if out of nowhere, as if he was teleporting right next to him. "What the hell?" There's no way he could be this fast; he thought usually with a Sharingan he would be able to see through these sort of things but what was he using ninjutsu, genjutsu? Just what was he dealing with?

"Your confusion is natural, but no, I'm not using ninjutsu or genjutsu." He kicked Sasuke in the face and he was knocked face down if it weren't for his lifetime of training, he would be completely down for the count. He instantly got back up; he looked around: where was he? His speed was crazy.

"I cannot use Genjutsu or Ninjutsu. I want to prove to everyone that even someone like me who can only use Taijutsu could still be a formidable Shinobi."

Sasuke was knocked in the air. He was completely powerless for a short amount of time, all of his confidence that he would win this fight easily was shattered. It was over. How can he lose to someone like this? Before he could unleash his technique, he was knocked down. Sasuke was shocked.

He didn't know whether to be grateful or disgusted when a turtle appeared before him.

Kagome thought it was strange what she was seeing." Guy Sensei I'm sorry,"the boy said bowing to his sensei there's no way it could be the turtle as if to answer her question a man appeared who dressed not too much different from his student except he wore what his traditional for his rank.

"The exams haven't started yet, and you were about to unleash your secret technique. What were you thinking?" his Sensei scolded him.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to disappoint you," she thought. The scene was strange; one minute he kicked him and the next they were hugging each other. What the hell was going on?

Then he looked at them "you three must be the students of Hinata Hyuga; she has trained you three well". The way he spoke to them was respectful, as if he knew their sensei.

"The thing you need to know is that I trained your sensei. I'm the reason she's as strong as she is."

What she thought was it him being arrogant or was he telling the truth, or was it a combination of both? It was hard for her to tell. But no, he had the means to back it up; she could pick it up based on how he carried himself: he was not someone to be underestimated.

"Wait, you're the reason Hinata Sensei is so strong?" Naruto's eyes lit up. She rolled her eyes. Did he have to make his infatuation with their Sensei so public?

"Your Sensei is someone of great beauty isn't she Naruto?" Asked Guy"I… I"Naruto couldn't even form a coherent sentence that was so embarrassing.

"I think you're embarrassing him sensei," Tenten said, not really happy with his antics.

"So this is the boy living with Hinata-sama." She looked and saw a boy who was around 14 years old, wearing a beige shirt, a dull blue shirt underneath that, and mesh armour underneath that. He wore dark brown shorts, blue shinobi sandals, and wrapped bandages around his right arm, chest, and right leg. He tied his hair back in a loose ponytail tied just above the end. He wore a black forehead protector.

"So what if I'm living with Hinata Sensei?" Naruto said, not liking his tone.

"So you're the teacher's pet, go figure." he said mockingly.

"Don't bad mouth her," Naruto said dangerously.

"What are you going to do? Start a fight? I love to see a failure like you try." Kagome had to say something before Naruto did something rash.

"Naruto stop, he's just trying to provoke you." Naruto looked at her and then relented.

"You better hope we don't fight ever in the exams, you are destined to lose." He walked past them treating him like an ant.

"Neji is not an opponent to be taken lightly; he graduated at the top of his class. I can't name many people who could actually beat him." said Lee

"Is he really that strong?" Naruto asked in disbelief.

"Yes, he was the top of his class last year. He's not someone to be underestimated; I don't even think Sasuke could beat him." Lee said, adding only salt to the wound over his defeat earlier.

He was really that strong. She heard rumors about how strong Neji was, but then again he's part of the same clan as her sensei, so it's natural that someone from their clan would be on top of their class. She found it hard to believe though that Sasuke couldn't touch him, but rumors always have some grain of truth in them even if at times they're exaggerated.

"I hope I get to see you in action, especially Kagome-san." Rock Lee smiled and left the girl with him these people were trouble. She thought everyone she had seen so far was a potential rival; so many strong opponents made her nervous and excited at the same time. She was so excited that she forgot Naruto's earlier outburst and defensiveness about their sensei.

"We should get going; we don't want to be disqualified before we even start." Sasuke said. They left with him soon, she knew the exams would begin and she could test the results of her hard work; she couldn't let her mother down.

She was waiting for her students; they were going to arrive any minute now. She knew what she saw in front of her was Neji, her cousin. He was with his team. They weren't on speaking terms; he gave her a cold look and passed by her alone with his team. The disgust that she feels over the Cage Bird seal on his head shouldn't let what goes on in the clan concern her; it wasn't her concern: the only thing the clan was useful for was clout and prestige, nothing more.

But she couldn't help but feel anger at the injustice that Neji and people like him in the Byakugan house have to suffer because of that seal. She sometimes wished she could just be ruthless and cold as he disregarded that thought as soon as she thought about it, wanting to be nothing like him.

She saw her sister, who was happy to see her even if it was briefly." Your team made quite a scene earlier,"her sister said with that smile she only knew so well.

"I hope they haven't caused too much trouble."Hinata was concerned that she knows how Sasuke is and Naruto, she's grateful Kagome is there to keep them stay out of trouble.

"By the way, Naruto was very defensive of you earlier." Hanabi whispered in her ear so nobody could hear them.

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked. "I'm sorry, I have to go, sis." She got out as quickly as possible before she could answer her question.

It was no secret that Naruto was attached to her and had gotten attached to her in short amount of time. She did not know how to approach the situation; she wanted to believe it was just a harmless crush. After all, she was the first person after Iruka to treat him with any kindness.

He was a teenager. She's supposed to have crushes wasn't uncommon; she had plenty of boys that were younger than her who had a crush on her. But they weren't anything but a shallow crush. Naruto is different; she couldn't think about her thoughts for long because her team approached her. They had a look of determination; they were ready for the exams more than ready.

"You three being here is good because if only one or two of you were here, you couldn't enter the exams."

They all looked confused, which was natural. There were rare exceptions where one or two people could enter the exams - but those were rare exceptions, like the case of Itachi Uchiha when he needed to get promoted, but he didn't have a full team so he was a one-man cell. This was at a different time compared to today.

The present, no matter what it had to be, was a team of three in Konoha. In other nations, it was different; when one or more members of a team have been promoted, the teams have to be swapped for other members in order to make up a three-man cell unless the rare exceptions in times before the present were geniuses like Kakashi and Itachi were given exceptional treatment but these weren't these times anymore. Everyone had to be on a three-man cell otherwise they couldn't test every aspect of what it means to be a Shinobi in the exams.

Her students would learn soon enough about the three aspects, but she would explain why there needed to be three people for this part of the exam because that was her role as their teacher.

"Why?" Kagome asked, confused.

"Remember, why we had the Bell test?"

Naruto understood what she was getting at."We are being tested as a team. This exam is testing if we are capable of working with one another and if we have mastered the basic skills that we've been taught since we left the academy." Naruto answered with complete confidence.

She was proud of her student and friend, Naruto. He had the potential to be an Hokage someday; he showed leadership qualities.

"Yes, but there are other reasons. But I cannot tell you every test that you've been given till now will look easy by comparison to the exams you're about to take. You are going to be tested in multiple different ways. The piece of wisdom I can pass on to all three of you is support each other and trust each other. That is the only way you're going to be able to succeed in the exam." Her students nodded as if they understood what she was saying.

She was worried, though she didn't know why. She felt something sinister in the air as if there was something dark at work.

"We will pass the exams with flying colors, you'll see, Sensei. I'll make you proud."

His teammates rolled their eyes. It's probably something that will pass; Naruto wouldn't be the first nor the last to be infatuated with her.

"Good luck, everyone." They walked past her; she looked at the doors when they passed through them, and there was no turning back: the beginning of the hardest trials of their lives would begin.

She walked away from the building where the first exams would be taking place. She couldn't help but feel like someone was following her when she looked. It was nothing, was she imagining things?"Damn, I keep seeing shadows everywhere!" Hinata said out loud. She didn't get a chance to wander for long before she saw a silver-haired man whom she recognized well. "Jiraiya-sama, what have I done to deserve this honor?" she asked him.

Rather than speak, he handed her a scroll. She opened it and then read it. He was speaking in code, obviously. She knew what it meant: him and the Hokage needed to talk at a secure location.

She was being careless. Hinata suspected someone was watching her, Red, which was what she was called, was doing everything to keep herself out of sight, but Hinata was trained by a former Abu; she couldn't use the same tactic she could use against anybody else. She was skilled; she could have been a member of their organization; she had the talent for it. Pursuing her wasn't easy; she was obviously going to go to a location that she had no way of getting any intel on how to get there; she would have to report to her master.

Hinata's orders were clear, but she had higher-priority orders from someone else. She looked at Hinata's team entering the exams; she would observe them for now. Jiraiya was clever; he knew there were spies like her in the village, and there was no way she could do anything. Then she noticed another presence and threw a kunai, which the woman caught with ease; she wore a frog mask.

"As good as ever, red." The woman said with cold indifference.

"Do you have any reason to interfere with my mission, Sakiko?" Red asked. The masked woman was obviously not her real name; like Red, she had long since abandoned such needs for her true identity and a name that she no longer remembered.

"Danzo Sama wishes for you to continue with your current mission. Watch Team 7 until Hinata appears again, the mission continues as planned." Sakiko said as she disappeared.

She took off her mask and saw herself in a mirror. Ever since she laid eyes on Naruto, strange memories appeared.

Flashback 13 years ago

"If we have a son, I'd like to name him Naruto. If we have a daughter, I'd like to name her Naruko. What do you think?" She heard a man ask. There was a woman who was seven months pregnant with long red hair, lying on his lap and looking at the ceiling of their apartment.

"I would love for our son Hina and him to make great friends. I wouldn't mind calling her daughter one day." she said with a warm smile.

"Daughter, isn't that premature? Our child isn't even born yet." The man in her memories asked.

"But I love you, yeah. Our age gap is big, but would it be such a bad thing for our son to have a mature woman as his wife?" she asked playfully.

"I could see our son falling for a mature woman. I just don't see him falling for someone the same age as him; it runs in our family." said her husband.

The couple laughed; she truly loved this man, despite being in her 30s and him being in his early twenties. She loves him greatly; it wouldn't trade him for anything.

"I love you," the man said to her.

"I love you too, my beloved flash." she replied lovingly.

She felt a tear fall. Why was she crying? What was this memory? Who was she? Why did it matter? Then she heard a sinister voice.

"So even Donzo can't suppress memories with that power of his." a man with a sinister sounding voice

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

"Are you not curious about who you are? Your memories, which have long since been suppressed, haven't you wondered who you are and where you come from? Have you ever wondered why that blonde boy and the Hyuga woman? Why is your memory surfacing now seeing them? I know who you are. Red, I hold the secret to unlocking your memories. Why do you work for the root? I know what your deepest desires are. Your memories, you desire them back. I can give you back your memories if you work for me." The man offered.

"I won't betray my village," the woman said with conviction.

"Oh my poor red, you have been used as a tool for so long. You are not the woman I remember: the red I remember would never allow herself to be controlled by someone like Donzo. Think about it; consider my offer." The man said.

"Your words are poison, Orochimaru." The woman said getting agitated.

"You're not very like Root Abu, are you? You're not supposed to have emotions yet. You're displaying them now. Interesting. I guess the power of that jitsu has a time limit; its powers are weakening soon. Your memories will fully return." Orochimaru said with amusement.

"You said my memories are returning, yet earlier you said you can give me back my memories. How do I know that your words aren't literal poison used to deceive me?" Red asked, ready to initiate combat.

"You are wise to be wary of me. Very wise you'd be a fool to accept everything I say at face value. The memories that you're seeing are those of your previous life, the life that was taken from you by your master." Orochimaru said.

Red looked at him. She got into her stance. Orochimaru laughed as if what she was doing was futile and foolish.

"I am not actually here; I'm just a clone. The real me is with Naruto and the others. You seek answers for your origin: who you truly are, Red. I know your real name, who you were, and what was stolen from you. I even know why you react the way you do towards Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga. I have the answers to the questions that you have had for the past five years." Orochimaru said, enjoying her ignorance.

Her resolve was weakening. She couldn't detect any lies in his words, but she knew something about her true identity that she had desired for so long. Though she suppressed it because of her roots training, she had been a member of the organization for over ten years; Orochimaru said five years - how is that possible?

"There are jitsus that can alter memories. You have not been a member of the root for more than five years. Why do you think you wear a mask? Why do you think your identity has to be hidden? Why are you forbidden to take off your mask? It's because those who knew you and your previous life would recognize you immediately. He's been lying to you; he had stolen 13 years of your life away from you, life away from your son, life away from your husband." This caused her to attack him, which caused him to laugh in amusement.

"Lies lies lies," she screamed. She heard left her.

"Deny all you want, my dear. Everything I'm saying is true; even you know it's true. The memories that you saw of a blonde-haired man aren't a lie. The kind of things that genjutsu can do to your mind: alter your memories and make them so you remember things that didn't happen or happened differently. Have you ever wondered why mind-altering jitsu are a forbidden art? Think about it: you are a result of that. You don't even know your real name; you don't even know who you are. Your identity was stolen from you by Danzo. Who used my experiments to make you who you are." Orochimaru explained, enjoying her anguish.

"You have to prove it. I don't believe anything you say; it's all a lie." Red said.

"When more of your memories surface, you will go to me for answers. And when you do, you will turn on the very people who have stolen your past and future from you. I will give you a hint: You are a famous kunichi whose rival was an Uchiha. The rest you'll have to figure out on your own." Orochimaru said as he vanished.

The memories. Everything couldn't be true, but what if he isn't lying? She didn't like this train of thought at all; she put the mask back on. She couldn't let herself doubt her resolve or Donzo's cause. Orochimaru was lying; he had to be lying. She was trying to convince herself more than anyone, but part of her in her heart knew it was true: the memories that she had been seeing lately were those of a woman who had a husband who loved her and a girl who promised to take care of her son.

She couldn't let her resolve waver she would complete her mission and eliminate Hinata Hyuga by any means necessary.