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  Sasuke Uchiha left the Ninja Academy and was walking down a riverside road. Anyone who looked at him could see that he was distracted by something. He wao clear his mind and was simply roaming the vilge through some random roads.

  'I've bee a Genin but I haven't even awakened my Sharinga. Damn it. Itachi was in Anbu by the time he was twelve with fully matured Sharingan. I've been training so hard but it feels like I haven't made any progress… So what am I doing wrong?'

  The Uchiha sighed and slightly shook his head. His mind soon came to the subject of his team.

  'I wonder who my teammates are going to be? No matter who they are, they'll only slow me down… I o get much stronger. I o bee strong enough to fight a Daichi. Only then will I be able to defeat Itachi.'

  At that moment Sasuke sighed and somehow the versation he had with Daichi during their st spar popped into his mind.

  Fshback.

  "Hey, I know I've asked this before but do you think that if I show the teachers what I really do, I might be able to get an apprenticeship with an experienced Jonin like you?" Sasuke asked as he blocked Daichi's punch.

  The Uchiha could see Daichi's hesitao reply and immediately khe ao that question. 'Of course not. Despite my talents I'm still not on the same level of skill and strength as Daichi.'

  "Sasuke, you're a talented-"

  "Stop! Just stop."

  Sasuke stopped the fight and looked at his rival. A few seds ter he sighed and looked at the sky.

  "I spend time here with you for two reasons. One, because you're strohan me and fighting you is the only way I get stronger. At least right now."

  'And I hate admitting that…'

  "Two, you don't try to coddle me like most people I meet nowadays."

  The Uchiha turned his head and looked Daichi dead in the eye. "Just give me a straight answer."

  Daichi looked at his friend and nodded. "Fihe ao your question... No. While you're strong and far ahead of your peers I don't think you'll be under an apprenticeship when you graduate. You'll be part of a standard 4 member Genin squad."

  Sasuke nodded and the two tio spar. They weren't having an intense fight but were trying to improve their basic Taijutsu skills and teiques.

  "Who do you think my teammates are going to be?"

  At Sasuke's question a smirk formed on Daichi's face which brought fusion to the Uchiha.

  "Daichi, you know something I don't?"

  "A lot of things actually." The Genin said with a small ugh.

  "Hn."

  Seeing Sasuke's irritated face, Daichi chuckled but gave an answer. "I'm not sure... But anyone could be a part of your team. Even Naruto."

  The Uchiha groairedly. "Of all people… I doubt I'd remain sane for long with that knucklehead on my team. Someone like him, he'd only drag me down."

  "You know, he and you are a lot alike." Daichi said, jumping over Sasuke's leg sweep a a fast jab towards Sasuke's shoulder.

  The academy student moved out of the way and quickly got up fag his oppo. "Please. He and I are nothing alike."

  "Ohh you'd be surprised. Both of you suffered tragedies and lost parents. Granted he doesn't know his family, but still, I imagihe pain he feels of not knowing is quite signifit. You both have high ambition. And he works hard once he sets his mind to something. Just like you."

  Sasuke had stopped mid battle and jumped back. He narrowed his eyes and looked at Daichi with a frown. The Genin could see anger bubblih the somewhat calm face. "You're really paring that idiot to me? You think he even spends half his time training like I do? You think he knows the kind of loss and pain I feel?"

  "Not the same kind of pain you've experienced but he has felt immense pain aache. There was a time when he had no one he could t on for help. Sasuke, what happeo you was bad, but you do not want to switch pces with him. Trust me on that."

  Daichi was serious as he said the words and Sasuke realized that. The Genin tinued. "And as for training, I've seen him push himself till he barely stand. You shouldn't uimate him. I don't."

  Sasuke was surprised at that admission. "You're not just saying that, are you? You really do mean it."

  "Yes."

  "Hn. Well, unlike you I don't have overwhelming blind faith that he's suddenly going to be strong."

  "You'll eat those words one day." Daichi said ughing.

  The two tio spar and soon when night came they went their separate ways.

  Fshbad.

  Sasuke then recalled the match he had with Naruto a few ho at the academy. 'He defirained his chakra trol and his shuriken skills were a lot better than I thought… Still… It would be hectic if he was on a team with me.'

  Sasuke was about to turn a er but a versation stopped him in his tracks.

  "Naruto. I'm here because there is one more test for the graduation exam."

  "One more test?"

  'That's Mizuki and Naruto. What are they talking about? A sed graduatio?'

  The Uchiha was surprised to hear that. He cealed his presend carefully listeo the two. As the versatiressed he was even more shocked by what he heard and by the end of it the Uchiha had a rough idea of what was happening.

  "Good luaruto." The in instructor said with a smile.

  "Thanks. ime you see me, I'm gonna be Rookie of the year. Believe it!"

  A few moments ter he sehat both parties had left the area. 'This must be Mizuki's trick. He's looking to use Naruto for his own gains… Whatever. It's not my problem if that idiot gets himself into trouble.'

  Sasuke turned around and decided to head straight home. He decided to ighe predit Naruto was in and made the decision to focus on himself. He made his way to the front gates of his pound and stopped. He looked at the Uchiha symbol carved oes and his hands ched into a fist.

  'Damn it. Why am I eveating? Whatever trouble Naruto is in, it's not my business. So then… Why 't I ig?'

  The Uchiha let out a deep breath of air and closed his eyes. 'That damn Mizuki. He even dragged in my ill to make Naruto steal a scroll from the Hokage tower. He should know he'll be caught when they cataruto. So what's his pn here?'

  Sasuke opened his eyes and turned around. 'Since he had the o use me in his trap, it's only fair that I see what he's up to. He must have ser pn, he'd be a plete idiot otherwise…'

  Suddenly ahought emerged in his head. 'If I take a traitorous in down, will the Hokage make an exception for me? If I capture Mizuki arieve whatever scroll he wanted Naruto to take, will the Hokage make me part of a two man team like Daichi?'

  A small smile slowly formed on the boy's fabsp;'Whatever the case, I'm far too curious now to just let this go.'

  He began making his way to the Hokage tower. 'I o make sure I'm out of Naruto and Mizuki's sight. I o find out what's really happening before I make my move.'

  —-

  With Shikamaru.

  "I have a pn… I need you guys to do exactly as I say." Shikamaru said and the others nodded.

  "e on, I'll expihing but right now, let's move from this spot." Shikamaru led his friends to a more secluded pd after having Hinata firm that they were alone he id out his pn.

  "Okay. For the moment we 't tell anyone or alert ao the situation."

  Ino and Hinata were surprised at that strategy but Choji kept silent. He had great trust in his friend.

  "What? Why? The smartest thing right now would be to inform the Jonins or the Hokage."

  The young Nara shook his head at Ino. "No. For ohing we don't know if he's w alone or if has some team with him. If we tell some random Jonin what we know aurns out to be Mizuki's friend or partner we'd be in trouble. And even if we do tell the Hokage, Mizuki might get captured but if he has any aplices then they might get away."

  "What makes you so sure he has anyone helping him?" Ino asked.

  "Because it's what I'd do. If I was going to betray the vilge, I'd need back up or at the very least a distra. It'd be a dumb pn otherwise. He's just a in academy instructor. For him to choose to bee a missing ninja, he'd need a strong team or he knows for sure he'll get prote once he leaves the vilge."

  "Um.. What about… your dads?" Hinata asked nervously.

  Ino sighed at that question. "I'm pretty sure they're out drinking. It's been a while sihey all met and si's raduation, this was an excuse for them to get drunk together. I don't even know where to start to look for them."

  "Sht now we 't tell ahen what do we do?" Choji asked.

  "We o make sure Mizuki is caught red handed. Or the theft of the scroll will be bmed on Naruto."

  "Um… What if… What if we tell Naruto the truth? He'd believe us… right?" Even though Hinata asked that question, it was as if deep down she khe answer herself.

  Shikamaru was silent for a few moments and then shook his head. "I don't like saying this but right now, I don't think Naruto would believe us."

  "Why not? We're his friends right?"

  Shikamaru turo Choji and sighed. "Yes. But you have to see it from his perspective. Mizuki is a respected in teacher and Naruto doesn't know about Mizuki's hatred. And remember what he said to Naruto. Acc to him we're all participating in this exam. Mizuki specifically told Naruto not to trust us or listen to us. If we front Naruto now… I'm not sure how he'd react."

  "Aargh. That idiot. Even if it's a fake test, why did he have to choose the test to steal the scroll from the Hokage tower?"

  "e on Ino, I thought you figured him out by now. For Naruto, after that defeat today against Sasuke this was the perfect way to get even and show him up. It's why he chose that task…" Shikamaru replied and Ino slumped her shoulders.

  "I have to give Mizuki credit. He knew just what to say to push Naruto's buttons…"

  "Sounds like Mizuki really thought this through." Ino realized that Mizuki had thought his pn out well and that it wouldn't be easy to beat him.

  "So what do we dht now? We have to do something."

  "I agree. Mizuki is beiiculous. He'll be extremely careful for the several hours. We o trap him and anyone helping him when he meets with Naruto for the exge."

  "But we only just graduated. If there is someone helping Mizuki, they'd at least be in or maybe even Jonin… Right?" Choji was nervous as he realized that a battle might be iable.

  "I know. The four of us won't stand a ce. That's why we'll need everyone for this." Shikamaru turo Ino.

  "Ino. I need you to get Sakura and Shino. I'm sure you find Sakura quickly and Shino might be at the iarium near his pound. Find them quickly and then make sure to stock up on your ninja gear. We'll be going up against shinobi with experience so we o set a trap and fight smarter. In addition to the usual gear, get smoke bombs, fsh grenades and fres."

  "Right!" Ino nodded in fidence.

  Shikamaru then turo his oldest friend. "Choji. I need you to find Kiba. He should be at the veterinary hospital or at his . Find him and stock up on gear. Tell him what's going on. We'll need his trag skills. But make sure that no one else finds out."

  "Got it."

  "What will you be doing?" Ino asked.

  "I'm going to keep an eye on the surroundings of the Hokage tower along with Hinata."

  "But spying on the Hokage tower… That's really dangerous."

  The Nara sighed. "I know. What a drag... If we just btantly spy on the Hokage, we'll get caught and will definitely be in trouble. We just o keep a for Naruto." He turo the Hyuga of the group. "Hinata. We're going to keep an eye on Naruto but from a distance. We know he'll be at the Hokage tower so that's our location. Your Byakugan will be of great help."

  The white eyed girl instantly went red faced. 'My-my eyes… On Naruto…'

  "Arr... Hinata... you do it?" Shikamaru asked in a deadpaone.

  The Hyuga girl ched her hands and eagerly nodded her head. "Y-yes. You t on me Shikamaru." Her stroermination sowed in her void face.

  The future Ino-Shika-Cho team sweatdropped seeing the stroion from the usually timid girl.

  Shikamaru tinued with his pn. "Right... Anyway lucky for us, I'm sure Naruto won't make a move till the sun goes down, so that gives us some time to prepare."

  Shikamaru tore a small portion of his clothes and hahem to Ino and Choji. "Once you two find the others and are ready, use that to find me and Hinata. But make sure to be as discreet as possible and above all else, we 't be seen by Naruto or Mizuki."

  "So don't draw attention. That's gonna be hard since I'm a charming figure but it's not impossible." Despite the serious situation Ino couldn't help but give a cheeky reply.

  Shikamaru sighed. 'Oh brother.'

  "Whatever… Remember. This is most important. We're following Naruto into danger and there is a good ce we'd be risking our lives. There could be in or Jonin ehis is really dangerous. If anyone wants to back out, now is the time. It won't ge anything." Shikamaru looked at the three and saw that none of them were willing to back down. He smiled and nodded.

  "Good luck everyone. Let's go."

  The sed the four newly graduated ninjas vanished from their spot.

  Author's Note.

  Ohing I want all of you to keep in mind is that Kishimoto created shikamaru as a character with great intelligend high 200 IQ. He's a master strategist.

  Now obviously I as the author have nowhere hat intelligence. So the pns I make might have some fws and it will show iory. I've been revising my pns over and over but I could have missed something.

  So If you spot any problems let me know in the ents.

  I'm really nervous writing this arc. It's not just rookie graduation. Annifit event will also take pce.