Naruto - Neglected Sage

The next day, Naruto and Hinata arrived at training grounds 7, 30 minutes early. They wanted to spend sometime together before the test.

"What do you think the test will be Naru-kun?" asked the lavender haired girl as she took out a picnic set from her inventory.

"I don't know Hina-hime, but if my guess is correct it'll probably have something to do with teamwork and working together" guessed the blond as he helped Hinata set up the picnic set.

The food wasn't made by her, it was a pre-ordered sandwich set from Ichiraku when they had lunch with his sisters yesterday. Though it wasn't ramen, Ayame and Old man Ichiraku were still great cooks.

They had some breakfast and chatted about some jutsus they didn't master yet. They someone finally came or rather they all came together. Since Naruto sensed all of them coming. The first to arrive were Mito and Naoko. Behind them a little further ahead was Sasuke with his usual brooding mood. The Jounins were somewhere a few hundred meters away in a tree.

"Naruto-nii, Hinata-nee-chan!!" shouted Naoko when she spotted them and hurriedly went over. Mito followed her and greeted them "Good morning"

Hinata and Naruto greeted them Good morning as well.

Then Duck-butt graced them with his presence and said "Hn. Dobe, you can't even follow a simple instruction. Kushina-sensei specifically told us not to eat breakfast"

Naruto glared at him and asked "And when did she tell us that exactly?"

"Um, Naruto-nii, Kaa-chan-sensei told us yesterday to not eat breakfast or we'll puke" answered Naoko worriedly. She didn't want to upset her brother, especially since both twins sorta bonded with him and Hinata yesterday at lunch.

"That's not true Naoko-chan" said Hinata confusing the three "She actually only suggested that we don't eat. She never ordered it, plus how do you expect a 'Gennin' compete with an Elite Jounin without eating breakfast?" she asked while the three new comers finally realized their mistake.

"Judging by your looks you must've realize it by now. A ninja must always look underneath the underneath. Wasn't that taught at the academy?" asked Naruto sternly as the twins looked down in shame, while Duck-butt shrugged it off.

"Now now, Naru-kun don't be so hard on them" said Hinata, then she turned to the three and suggested "How about you guys eat something. There's still 20 minutes left before the exam and we have plenty of food.

The twins looked at each other and nodded, Hinata gave them some sandwiches and two cans of Cola to drink. Sasuke was still reluctant, but Naruto tossed him a sandwich as well as a can of Tomato juice. Though reluctant he nodded in thanks to Naruto.

They all say down together, said Itadakimasu, and ate away.

*****

On a tree, not so far away. Two Jounins were observing them.

"Well, would you look at that" said Kakashi a bit surprised.

"See Kakashi, I told they'd get a long just fine" said Kushina feeling a bit proud at her future students.

"That you did Nee-chan, that you did" said Kakashi "It seems like their about to finish their meal, should we give them a surprise?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Kakashi" Kushina said making Kakashi raise his only visible eyebrow "Because it looks like that Hyuuga girl has already found us, quite a while ago too I might add"

"Well that's a Hyuuga for you" said Kakashi as Kushina just nodded. Hinata did find them a few minutes ago, but not until Naruto pointed it out to her. They were particularly easy to spot, because their chakra level was the highest in the area, not including Mito and Naoko of course. Though Naruto could easily find them even if they were 1000 meters away and were hiding their chakra. That's just how good of a sensor he was.

After discussing for a few more minutes, both Kushina and Kakashi finally decided to show themselves and body flickered near them. Both the twins and Sasuke were surprised, but got over it immediately when they saw who they were.

"Alright, I see that everyone is in top shape" said Kushina smirking.

"Now the exam is simple" said Kakashi as he pulled out 3 bells and tossed 2 to Kushina "All you have to do is take this bells from us before 12 noon, otherwise you'll be sent back to the academy"

"But Kakashi-jiisan there's only 3 bells" said a confused Mito, while tilting her head.

"Very observant Mito-chan, yes. There are only 3 bells so 2 of you will have to return to the academy" explained Kushina getting a mix of reactions. Naoko was surprised and got a little nervous, Mito didn't show her surprise and begun to think about something, Sasuke was stunned but then smiled at the challenge. While Naruto and Hinata were unfazed, greatly confusing the Jounins.

"Now all of you shouldn't hesitate" said Kakashi as he pulled out an orange book. Which got him a glare from Kushina, but then shrugged it off since this was apart of Kakashi's psychological tactic.

"Come at us with the intent to kill and don't worry we can take care of ourselves so don't hold back" said Kushina.

"Now get ready" said Kakashi as the three tensed up, while Naruto took out a sword from his inventory and Hinata activated her Byakugan. 'I see their going to take us on seriously' thought Kushina making herself smile. She couldn't wait to see what her 'Sochi' was capable of, plus he had a sword. 'Maybe, after this I could teach him some pointers' she daydreamed. While Kakashi was happy that he could finally get revenge from the humiliation yesterday.

""GO!!"" said both sensei's

Immediately the twins and Sasuke ran into the forest and hid. Mito whispered something to her twin, then a moment later Naoko created some Shadow clones and sent them to every direction as to confuse their pursuers.

'Good tactic' Kushina thought. But she was immediately cut off from her thoughts, when she saw Kakashi getting slugged in the face by Hinata's fist. Making him fly to another part of the forest.

"Pervert" said Hinata and then flickered into the forest to hide.

Kushina was surprised at her power and speed. But then sweatdropped at the comment. She then caught a blonde silhouette at the corner of her eyes.

The Red Haired beauty focused her attention on Naruto while pulling out her sword, however she was surprised when she saw his expression. The Naruto she was facing right now didn't have his indifferent cold look, but rather an incredibly sad one. Like he had gone through heart break- no it was far more than that, like his family abandoned him. She gasped at the thought and begun to tear up, but she held on from completely sobbing.

She continuedly blamed herself for what happened years ago, she prayed many times for a second chance with her son, but right now when he looks at her with those unbearably sad cerulean blue eyes, she didn't know what to do. Even though he this close, she didn't know what to do, but then Naruto held out both his hands as if asking for a hug. His face looked like that of a child that wanted his mother's comfort. Kushina lost it after that.

"S-sochi, my Sochi" Kushina cried out as she ran to him and tried to hug Naruto.

"Fool" she heard him say as the scabbard of Yamato pummeled her at the side. She heard a few bones crack as she was sent flying just like Kakashi to a nearby tree.

*Gufoh!*

She hit the tree so hard that the air got knocked out of her lungs. She regained her footing, and readied her stance to receive the following attack. Though she did receive heavy damage, it didn't phase her that much since with her experience she had gone through a lot worse.

A few seconds passed and a follow up attack never came. Confused she surveyed the area, and came to a conclusion that Naruto was gone.

She had been had, and it saddens her to no end. However, she did realize one thing, Naruto and by extension Hinata shouldn't be underestimated. That one attack he did was strong, and fast almost Kage level. Though it was despicable and underhanded, it was a clever tactic all the same. A quality that can only be found in an experienced ninja.