Dexter's POV;

I had a massive headache when I woke up from my memory trip. Luckily we still had a day or so left from the exam, this in combination with a lot of cuddling of Kurama helped in solving this headache.

Kura-chan explained to me what happened during my out time, that she probably killed the Sound Three, who were initially in my 'To recruit' list. That the slippery motherfucker of Orochimaru managed to flee and that Sasuke and Sakura will fail this test if I hadn't sent another blood clone to replace Naruto.

The thing is, I don't plan to keep him. The stunt with the last one showed me that I shouldn't use them over long periods of time with a forced personality.

I went over my memories and saw that the blood clone didn't act as the canon Naruto at all. He wasn't the loudmouth and stupid prankster, more the reclusive silent psycho. Those that attacked him were often found dead and fights were taken care of in a fast and quick manner.

Interactions with others were kept at a minimum but oddly enough it seems like he helped Hinata as well and she now has a crush on him. Heh, poor girl will be devastated when she get wind of his supposed death. Naruto won't be able to heal from the wounds he suffered during the exam and use his last strength to bring both Sasuke and Sakura to the tower, where he will then die after opening the scrolls.

As for changes on my side, there are some. I'm sure I don't know all of them but the larger ones like an increased dislike of Sarutobi and especially Danzo, for example, are fairly clear. The spies and 'guards' send by both of them have done nothing when my clone was attacked. At least they had done nothing as well when he fought back. On the contrary, Danzo's Ninja even encouraged other Ninja and civilians to attack me. Possibly to see how strong Naruto became.

Then there is the need to be physically close to someone. The blood clone was completely alone for years. No one to speak to, who won't insult him, or hug and touch him.

I never was alone for such a long period of time, even during my reclusive time of reading. I often changed my appearance and played with children in orphanages or fooled around with the maids of my mansion. This complete lack of any form of affection isn't good.

It's a good thing that Kura-chan wasn't opposed to the long cuddling and the following sex. She's still out from the petting I gave her tails.

I'm remained inside my mindscape and with her in our bed. She was lying on my chest, the tails hugging both of us and one of them in my hands. Small purring sounds came from her and she looked like the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Her skin is glistering a little from the sweat and her smile, that came from the after effects of sex and the ongoing petting, warmed my heart and let myself smile fondly.

I know that I never really left her, however, it feels like it's the first time in years that I touched her.

My plan to give her a real body will also start with the Chunin exams.

“Dexter-kun?”.

Hmm? Seems like someone is speaking to me from the outside. But I want to cuddle more....

“Dexter-kun, the next exam will start in an hour”, said the voice again and I begrudgingly left my mind.

“I'm up, what was that about the next exam?”, I asked and sat up on my bed. TenTen was standing next to me, wearing her clothes for battle.

“The second exam will end in an hour and I was told that the next one will start directly after”, she repeated and tossed me some of my clothes.

“Fine fine, I'll come. Where is Lee?”, I said and stood up to change. The fact that I only wore boxers wasn't new to TenTen. We often saw each other in a half naked form, quirks of being a team and out in the wilderness. Guy-sensei's hard training wasn't healthy for clothes as well.

She was still blushing slightly and turned around.

“He said something about last minute training and run off to the gym”, she said and rummaged through my Ninja supplies.

I hummed my acknowledgment and began to get dressed.

°Why did you leave?°, asked Kura-chan suddenly in a slightly dejected tone.

°TenTen said that the next test will start in an hour, can't miss it°, I answered and finished getting clothed by putting my boots on. I kinda felt through the link how she stretched and then went to sleep.

I shrugged and took the prepared weapons pouch from TenTen and followed her to the large room that will be used as the arena for the fights that will come in the next hours.

The teams that managed to finish the last test were the Suna team, my Uzu team, Shikamaru's team, my team, Hinata's team, Neji's team, Sasuke's team, and Kabuto's team.

We were 24 all in all.

“Who do you think will be your opponent?”, asked TenTen once we reached the hall. Most other teams were also inside with only Shikamaru's team and Sasuke's team missing. Probably because Ino is waiting for her Sasuke.

“Don't really care, none of them, other than this Gaara, is a threat to me. Both you and Lee would be wise to not fight him”, I said and pointed at Gaara who was even now grinning his bloodthirsty grin at me. The little stalker was watching me the whole time since we came inside the tower.

“Really? He doesn't look like much”, said TenTen with an analysing glance.

“Trust me, he's stronger than you and won't stop without killing you. He might not even stop even if the proctors tell him to do”, I further said and Gaara grinned widely as if he heard what I said.

“Creepy”, said TenTen with a shiver.

“Guys, I finished my youthful training!”, shouted Lee who came running to us from the entrance. He was panting slightly but wasn't really tired from the looks of it.

“You're late Lee”, reprimanded TenTen.

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“Did you hear the latest news? The team of Sasuke barely managed to finish the last test. Seems like Naruto is even badly hurt and might not survive. He carried both his teammates into the tower and dropped dead after summoning the teacher”, said Lee with tears in his eyes for Naruto's youthful commitment.

“Really? Thought the last Uchiha would win with flying colors”, said TenTen mockingly. She had no love for any of them. Sasuke was a prick, Sakura annoying and useless and Naruto was creepy in her opinion.

“He wouldn't be a Genin if he was stronger than us. Heard his brother was already a Jonin when he was 14. Sasuke isn't much in comparison to Itachi”, I said and suddenly felt minuscule amounts of killing intent.

“Don't speak of him”, growled Sasuke who must've heard me.

“Shouldn't you be with your teammate? I heard he is badly wounded”, I asked with a raised eyebrow. Sure Sasuke was a huge prick and really narcissistical, but even he must feel something for Naruto.

“The Dobe will manage, he always does”, he simply said and then walked to a wall where he sat down and clutched his hurting neck. Sakura, who was following him looked at me with fearful eyes and then sat down next to him. She tried to speak to him but was ignored.

“How unyouthful”, was Lee's comment and TenTen nodded in agreement.

The doors to the hall opened another time and Sarutobi followed by Hayate and the Jonin senseis came inside.

Orochimaru, who was originally passing as the sensei for the sound three wasn't with them.

We got in line and watched as Sarutobi stepped onto the small podium in front of the hand sign statue.

“Those of you that are here now have all shown that they are able to survive in the wilderness against enemies and nature. But the next test will be something different, it will be a show of strength that represents your village. Not all of you know this, but the Chunin exams is a way for each village to show how strong they are. This way we are able to avoid war but are at the same time show the world which village is the strongest”, he began and I heard Kankurou mumbling about us being pawns in the hands of our village.

The third Hokage heard him; “You are right, deep breathwe may use you as soldiers in this mirage of war, but that is what you are. Soldiers, Ninja are the soldiers of their village and have to do everything in their might to protect their home. If it means to hold a tournament to show which village is the strongest, then so be it.

But you are too many, there will be many influencing people that want to see the most promising Ninja. People who don't have much time, so we will hold a small tournament to divide the best of you”, continued Sarutobi and was then interrupted by Hayate.

“Hokage-sama *cough*, may I continue?*cough*”.

“Sure”, he said and stepped back, so that Hayate could be in front of us.

“This tournament will take place in this room*cough, cough*, it will be a one on one, *cough* and each of you is allowed to withdraw now. It*cough* won't influence your other teammates as this tournament is only viewing the strength of the individual*cough*”, he said and then ha deep breath in order to not start a coughing fit.

“I wish to step back”, came from Kabuto who was then led outside.

“Anyone*cough* else?”, asked Hayate but none of us raised their hand.

“As you are not enough for an even amount of fights*cough* we will first decide who of you will be allowed*cough* to continue to the next round without a fight”, he then said and the large screen came out of the wall. The pictures of us blinked rapidly on it and then stopped with the image of one of my Uzu Genin. It was the Uzumaki boy.

He was dejected but happy at the same time for not having to fight in this round.

“Well then, *cough* please take position*cough* on the balustrade until*cough* you are called”, he said and waited until all of us left the floor.

My team stood next to Kakashi and Kurenai.

The screen began anew and then stopped with the image of Shino and a Genin from Uzu, it was one of the civilians.

“I heard that one of your Genin got badly wounded?”, asked Kurenai Kakashi.

He, who was already reading his porn, didn't even look up as he answered,”Yes, he carried both his teammates into the tower and activated the scroll before falling down from exhaustion. It's not clear if he will survive”.

“Such a youthful student. His flames of youth will surely burn strong enough to survive this ordeal”, shouted Guy but glanced down at me. He must know.

“Wasn't it the dead last? This Naruto?”, she further asked and none of us missed the obvious flinch of Hinata. She must've already cried, her eyes are red and puffed.

“Naruto is stronger than it seems”, Kakashi simply said, but Sasuke scoffed. Sakura opened her mouth to say something, but was silenced by a glare from Kakashi, probably something about him not being there when they fought Orochimaru.

Too bad that Kura-chan didn't knock her out. At least it doesn't seem like she was speaking about our encounter. Sasuke might have forbidden her from doing so. The humiliating bitch slap that Kura-chan gave him isn't something that he wants to be known.

I looked back down to the fight and saw that Shino won the fight. There are some scorch marks from fire Jutsu that were used by the Uzu Genin, but he was defeated by the Chakra sucking bugs of Shino.

The next fight was Sasuke's against one of Kabuto's teammates. Sasuke seemed to have awaken his Sharingan during his fight against Orochimaru, but he hadn't Lee's Taijutsu and was forced to use the Sharingan and the curse mark against his opponent. He barely won and was instantly taken away by Kakashi.

“Where did they go?”, asked Kiba.

“Infirmary, Sasuke is still hurt from the last exam”, explained Kurenai but I saw her glancing to Guy, who gave a slight not in return.

The next fight was Kankurou against the remaining teammate of Kabuto. It was pretty much canon and he won with his puppet. His deathly hug crushed Misumi's rips and inner organs.

Shikamaru had to fight against one of Neji's teammates and busted the girl almost in the same way as in the Kanon. The only difference was that he didn't run against the wall but jumped upwards which forced her to jump head first against the balustrade.

Choji fought against the last teammate of Neji and rolled him over like a truck.

The poor guy tired to hit Choji with Kunai and even some low C-Rank Justu, but the Meatball Jutsu of Choji made his body as hard as steel.

After that was a fight of two of my Uzu Genin, probably ricked so that not too many of them have the chance to get into the next round. The two civilians were fighting each other. But it was clear that one of them had the upper hand. It was the boy. It wasn't because she was weak, no it was because she was the medic of the team and not good with close range fights. She used mid distance weapons and managed to keep him at bay for a good time, she even used some ninja wire, probably thought to her by their Sensei, who was a member of the Filium clan. The wire did catch him, but he used an earth Jutsu to get out of it and the held a Kunai to her neck after resurfacing.

The fight ended without much bloodshed and she healed the few wounds that he suffered.

The next fight was interesting, it was TenTen's fight against Temari. Normally it would have been Temari's win with her wind Jutsu, but TenTen trained hard to beat Ninja with this speciality.

Her idea was to use small earth Jutsu to create many stone walls that will block the wind attacks. She then rigged most of these walls with explosive tacks and forced Temari into them by throwing Kunai at her blind spot.

It worked, at first, but then Temari opened her fan fully and the wind got strong enough to slice through the walls. TenTen's last resort was to attack in a Kenjutsu fight, but Temari was no slouch with her fan even in close combat and kept her at bay.

The massive strength both had, one from the training with Guy and the other from the need of using such a big fan, was even. TenTen still lost at the end. She was forced back by a heavy hit of Temari and couldn't evade the directly following wind Jutsu that threw her into the wall. The hit was so strong that the wall cracked and even held TenTen inside.

Still TenTen didn't loose as embarrassingly as last time and Temari gave her a nod of respect at the end.

The next fight was Hinata against Neji, also canon. Neji almost killed her with her refusing to give up. The only difference was that no one declared to beat Neji up.

Then came Gara's fight, he was matched against Kiba, who instantly gave up. He and his teammates saw what he did in the Forest of Death and didn't want to end crushed to death.

Gara didn't like it the least and was barely restrained by Baki.

Lee, who was now almost jumping up and down from the anticipation of fighting, was pitched against the last Uzu Genin. The girl from the Gladius clan.

But it was Lee of whom we are speaking and Lee isn't known for changing his behaviour, so he still refused to fight such a good looking woman and was promptly beaten up.

TenTen just facepalmed in embarrassment, but Guy cried about Lee's youthful resolve of not hurting a woman. He too was beaten up, just this time by Kurenai.

Sakura had to fight against Neji's last teammate and both knocked themselves out in an embarrassing fight that did only show the bare minimum of being a Ninja.

Then it was my fight, it was the last one and was to fight against Ino. Really the poor girl won't even know what will happen to her. She isn't strong enough to fight me and even her mind Jutsu won't work. Kura-chan will fry her brain if she tries to.

This wouldn't be good for me as it would show everyone with at least a bit knowledge about mind Jutsu that I have something inside me or are trained against these kind of Jutsu. Both something that shouldn't be the case with Dexter Uzuki.

“I will beat you”, declared Ino, but her voice was shaky. She knew that I was the Genin of the year and as such she puts me on the same place of Sasuke, someone who is really strong in her opinion.

“You*cough*may start”, announced Hayate. Ino instantly rushed at me with barely note worthy speed and threw a few Kunai before attempting to engage me in a Taijutsu fight.

I first evaded her Kunai and then her bad Academy style attacks. All this while doing light taps on her arms and legs, each tap was Chakra enhanced and cut one of her pressure points or a little bit of her tendons. But not enough for her to instantly notice it. She might have been able with enough experience, but that was something that she did not has.

So it looked like she got gradually slower until she realised that the reason for that and that it wasn't her low stamina.

“What have you done?”, she then asked after jumping back to gain some distance.

“I cut your pressure points and tendons. You should barely be able to move now, give up it's over”, I said and saw that Neji was clenching his fists. He must think that I stole this style from the Hyuuga, as it is similar to their Hyuuken. But only to those who are simple minded, the Hyuuken does the same to the Tenketsu and is also based on immobilising the opponent but this is nothing new in Taijutsu. Many styles use strikes that slow or stop the movements of their opponent.

It's just that none of these is common in Konoha.

“No not yet!”, shouted Ino and brought me out of my thoughts. She moved her hands in the characteristic sign for her mind transfer Jutsu. I knew that this Jutsu needs a direct line, so I jumped away and put Ino into a choke hold. She was forced back into her body and found herself unable to breath. I kept the hold until she succumbed to the lack of air and got limp.

Hayate announced me as the winner and we moved on to the choosing of opponents in the next round.

Shikamaru was still patched against Temari, Shino against Kankurou, Gaara against Sasuke, the Usumaki Uzu Genin has to fight against Choji, I was to fight against Neji and the remaining civilian Genin from Uzu had to sit out for the first fight. On the first view something good, but it also meant that she wont able to show her skills and with that had not as many chances to prove herself worthy of the Rank of a Chunin.

Anyway, the next part of the exam will take place in a month and I'm interested in finding out about the fallout of Naruto's death.