"Sweet! If I pass this, I'll be another step closer to fulfilling my dreams!" Naruto cheered.
"Whatever helps me get stronger. After my encounter with Haku, I see that I need more experience to surpass my limits," Sasuke said.
"Now that's constructive talking I like to hear," Kakashi said.
"Do you believe we're ready to take part in the Chuunin Exams, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked as she held her application.
"We recently took on a C-rank turned A-rank mission and succeeded both in the mission and in all of us coming back alive. But in truth, as much as we want to believe ourselves to be ready for anything, that won't always be the case. In life, sometimes the most unexpected events take place, and we have to take on such challenges whether we're ready or not," Kakashi explained.
The three Genin, along with the Konohamaru corps found a heavy truth in Kakashi's words. Clearly he was speaking out of personal experience as a veteran ninja, and Honoka was able relate to Kakashi's words.
"I'm in," Sasuke replied.
"You already know my answer," Naruto said.
"I'll participate too," Sakura decided as she and her teammates filled out the application. After a few minutes, they gave Kakashi their completed forms.
"The exam will commence in three days. That should give you three time to rest up after our long mission. Enjoy yourselves till then," Kakashi said before he body flickered away.
"Well Honoka-nee, how about we continue where we left off?" Naruto suggested.
Honoka agreed, "I'd like that."
"Hey boss, why is she walking around barefoot? Can't she afford a decent part of sandals?" Konohamaru asked.
"It's her choice. I'll explain later," Naruto said. Sakura looked to ask Sasuke if he'd like to hang out with her, but she found that he was already gone from the group.
"Damn it, I missed! I'll have to try to get him faster next time!" inner Sakura yelled.
Sakura sighed and said, "You guys can do whatever you want. I'm gonna-"
"Yo Forehead!"
Sakura growled at the nickname, knowing all too well who called her that. The pink haired Genin turned to see Ino and her two teammates walking over to them. Chouji was eating a bag of potato chips while Shikamaru was pacing along with his hands in his pockets.
"What do you want?" Sakura asked.
"I heard rumors in town that there's some hot fire Uzumaki woman here in Konoha declaring that she's Naruto's big sister. I came to see if that was true," Ino explained.
"Word is getting around the village fast, neechan," Naruto commented. Honoka nodded and went over to Ino.
"You three must be Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji. Naruto-kun told me about you guys," Honoka greeted with a sweet smile.
"Wow Naruto! I never knew you had any relatives!" Chouji acknowledged.
"Like I did? We found each other during the first A-rank mission my team and I just came back from," Naruto said.
"An A-rank mission?! You guys were given an A-rank mission?! How can that be possible?! We're only Genin!" Ino screeched in disbelief.
Sakura puffed her chest out and remarked, "That's right, pig. Our first C-rank mission turned A-rank. A whole lot happened during that mission, too."
"Well don't hold back the details! Tell us what happened and how Naruto and…I'm sorry, I didn't get your name," Ino inquired earnestly, wanting to hear the latest news and gossip.
"That's quite alright. I'm Uzumaki Honoka. And believe it or not, Naruto-kun and I are of the Uzumaki clan from Uzu no Kuni," Honoka said.
"What? We were never told of an Uzumaki clan or of a country called Uzu no Kuni," Chouji said in disbelief.
"There's a whole lot you guys weren't taught at the academy regarding relations my clan had with Konoha. It's an ugly cover up that many aren't aware of," Naruto added.
"Troublesome. There's going to be a huge mess when this revelation gets out; a clan and country that was never taught about in class or talked about," Shikamaru stated.
"Your village and its hierarchy only have themselves to blame," Honoka remarked.
"How could there be an Uzumaki clan? No one ever mentioned that such a clan existed," Ino replied.
"Existed? Excuse me, but Naruto-kun and I are standing in front of you, and there are probably plenty more of us scattered around the world," Honoka corrected.
"Why?" Shikamaru inquired.
"You'll learn that after the ruling party of this village gets rid of the cover up and the correct information is placed back in the history books," Honoka said. Naruto saw that Shikamaru and his team, along with the Konohamaru corps wanted to learn more about this Uzumaki clan. The fact that Sakura didn't try to refute Naruto and Honoka only served to confirm that what was being said was true.
Ino stepped over and took a close look at Honoka and commented, "You have beautiful red hair and your skin looks so creamy and smooth. You also have a unique sense of fashion though I wonder why you don't wear sandals. Regardless of that, I can tell that you really take care of hair and your body. What's your secret? Can you share them with me?"
"Ino, she's not your beautician, and we have other places to go and other people to see." Naruto said.
"In any case, welcome to Konoha, Uzumaki Honoka. We wish your stay in Konoha to be a pleasant one, though we heard that you caused quite a ruckus earlier in town with that stunt you pulled, so it's clear that both you and Naruto are related, distant or not," Shikamaru stated.
"Well, the villagers were giving Naruto-kun some problems, so I had to set them all straight," Honoka replied.
"Things are certainly going to get interesting with two Uzumaki now in Konoha," Shikamaru realized.
(Later; in Another Part of Konoha)
Hinata was making her way back to the Hyuuga compound alone. She was thinking about Naruto's cousin and how they found each other. She was so happy that Naruto wasn't the only one of his clan anymore. She really wanted to know the details behind their encounter and how they came across each other. She just couldn't wait to hear the story.
The Hyuuga heiress reached the front of her clan's compound's gate when…
"Hinata?"
Hinata stopped and turned to see Sasuke approaching her.
"Sasuke-san, what brings you here?" Hinata asked.
"There have been some things that I wanted to talk with you about, and I don't want to wait any longer," Sasuke answered.
"And what would those things be?" Hinata asked, having an idea what they were.
"Hinata, I know you really like Naruto and you even chose become his girlfriend. But what I can't understand is why do you like a shameless pervert who peeks in women's bathhouses, flirts and hits on girls and women wherever he goes, and reads erotic books openly in public. Even while we were in Nami no Kuni, he flirted with every girl that threw themselves at him and he did nothing to tell them off, despite knowing he's going out with you. I don't see what you could possibly see in a guy that acts this way while in a relationship. Aren't you the least bit offended and hurt by his blatant disrespect for you, and what he's supposed to have going on with you?" Sasuke inquired.
Hinata sighed to herself, knowing this was going to happen sooner or later. Calmly, she answered, "I'm...the only one who truly knows Naruto-kun. E-Everyone else knows what he-e wants them to know about him."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke asked quizzically.
"What I mean is that you don't know Naruto-kun as well as you think. I learned to go beyond what my Byakugan can see, and I found something deep and endearing about Naruto-kun that no one else saw in him. True, Naruto-kun isn't perfect. He has his faults and bad habits, but I have them too, and I'm far from perfect. But like Naruto-kun, I was an outcast and treated like I was the disgrace of my clan. I was looked down upon by others and regarded as an unchangeable failure. And like Naruto-kun, I was even looked upon with hate and derision.
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