Team 7 gathered at their usual meeting spot the next morning, expecting another day of D-rank missions or perhaps some light training. Kakashi appeared in his typical puff of smoke, only an hour late this time.

"Yo," he greeted casually, orange book in hand.

"You're early," Naruto remarked suspiciously. "What's the catch?"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in amusement. "Can't a sensei just want to see his cute little genin?"

Sakura's ears twitched skeptically. "Spill it, sensei. What's going on?"

With a dramatic sigh, Kakashi pocketed his book and pulled out three slips of paper. "I suppose I can't fool you. Here."

He handed each of them a ticket. Sasuke examined his closely, dark eyes widening slightly as he read the text.

"These are..." he trailed off.

"Chunin Exam entry passes," Kakashi confirmed. "The exam starts in one week."

Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "Alright! We're gonna kick some serious butt and get promoted!"

Sakura, however, looked uncertain. "Sensei, do you really think we're ready? We've only been genin for a few months."

Kakashi tilted his head. "What do you think? Do you feel prepared to take on this challenge?"

The three genin exchanged glances, their earlier enthusiasm dampened by doubt.

"Well," Naruto hedged, "we did complete that crazy mission in Wave..."

"But we also saw how powerful some of the other participants are," Sasuke pointed out. "That Haku from Mist, and the red-haired Suna nin..."

Sakura nodded in agreement. "They seemed way above genin level. And who knows how many other strong competitors there'll be?"

Kakashi listened to their concerns with an inscrutable expression. Finally, he eye-smiled at them.

"Those are all valid points to consider," he said. "I've given you the opportunity, but the choice to participate is yours. You have a week to decide."

With that cryptic statement, he vanished in another puff of smoke, leaving his confused students behind.

"Well that was helpful," Sakura muttered sarcastically.

Naruto scratched his head. "So... what do we do now?"

"I suppose we have some thinking to do," Sasuke replied.

The three decided to wander through Konoha as they mulled over their options. The village was bustling with activity, civilians and shinobi alike going about their daily routines. Here and there, they spotted unfamiliar faces wearing hitai-ate from other villages - more participants for the exam, no doubt.

As they passed by the Academy, a familiar voice called out to them.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite troublemakers!"

They turned to see Mizuki approaching with a woman by his side. The silver-haired chunin grinned at them.

"Mizuki-sensei!" Naruto greeted enthusiastically. "And... um..."

The woman laughed. "I'm Tsubaki, Mizuki's fiancée. It's nice to meet you all properly."

Sakura bowed politely. "It's nice to meet you too, Tsubaki-san."

Mizuki looked them over appraisingly, noting the now matching clan symbols on two of his students. "My, you three have grown since graduation. Especially you, Sakura-chan. Those changes suit you."

Sakura's ears twitched self-consciously. "Ah, thank you..."

"Oh, may I?" Tsubaki asked, reaching towards Sakura's ears. At her nod, the older woman gently stroked the soft pink fur. "Amazing! And so cute too!"

Mizuki chuckled at his fiancée's enthusiasm. "Why don't you join us for a late lunch? We'd love to hear how you've been doing."

The genin agreed, and soon found themselves seated at a nearby restaurant. As they waited for their food, Tsubaki peppered Sakura with questions about her transformation.

"So the changes are still ongoing?" she asked, fascinated.

Sakura nodded. "Slowly, but yes. My feet have changed the most recently." She lifted her leg slightly to show her altered foot structure.

"Incredible," Tsubaki breathed. "And it doesn't hurt?"

"Not really," Sakura replied. "It was uncomfortable at first, but I've gotten used to it. The enhanced senses and agility are worth it."

Mizuki leaned forward, interest gleaming in his eyes. "I bet those advantages will come in handy during the Chunin Exams, eh?"

The genin stiffened slightly. "How did you know about that?" Sasuke asked cautiously.

Mizuki waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, word gets around. So, are you planning to participate?"

Team 7 exchanged uncertain glances.

"We're... not sure yet," Naruto admitted. "Kakashi-sensei left the decision up to us."

"You should absolutely go for it," Mizuki encouraged. "The exams are a great opportunity to test your skills and grow stronger."

Tsubaki nodded in agreement. "Plus, chunin get access to so much more knowledge. You could learn all sorts of new techniques!"

"That's true," Sakura mused. "The restricted section of the library would be open to us..."

Mizuki's grin widened. "Exactly! And isn't acquiring knowledge important for growing stronger? After all, that's the whole purpose of being a ninja, right?"

The genin hesitated, something about that statement not quite sitting right with them.

"I thought protecting the village was the purpose," Naruto said slowly.

Mizuki laughed, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Of course, of course. But you need strength to do that effectively, don't you?"

Before they could respond, their food arrived. As they ate, Mizuki steered the conversation to lighter topics, asking about their recent missions and training. When they mentioned Naruto's work with the Hokage, a calculating look briefly crossed Mizuki's face.

"That must be interesting," he remarked casually. "I bet you've learned all sorts of village secrets, eh Naruto?"

Naruto shook his head vigorously. "N-no way! I just help with paperwork and stuff. The old man doesn't let me see anything classified."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged a quick glance, noting the slight tells that indicated Naruto wasn't being entirely truthful. They kept quiet, however, not wanting to give their teammate away.

As they finished their meal, Mizuki gave them one last piece of advice.

"You three have grown so much already. I really think you should take the exam - you might surprise yourselves with how well you do."

They thanked their former teacher and his fiancée for the meal and said their goodbyes. As they walked away, Sasuke suddenly turned to Naruto.

"Hey, come over to my place. There's something I want to show you."

Naruto blinked in surprise. "Uh, sure. But I can't stay too long - I've gotta help the old man with paperwork in a couple hours."

Sasuke nodded. "It won't take long."

The three of them headed towards the Uchiha compound, each lost in their own thoughts about the upcoming exam and the strange undercurrent to their conversation with Mizuki.

----------------------------------------

Sasuke guided his teammates along the deserted pathways of his family's estate. Despite their frequent visits, the unsettling absence of life in what was once a vibrant neighborhood continued to make Sakura uncomfortable. She observed Naruto beside her, noticing how the grim surroundings had muted his typically energetic demeanor.

Upon arriving at his residence, he directed them to an isolated section of the structure. A concealed doorway appeared when he manipulated a hidden mechanism. They made their way down cramped stone steps, encountering increasingly stale and chilly air as they descended. When they reached the bottom, Sasuke triggered a mystical marking on the stone surface. The complex pattern briefly illuminated with azure light before disappearing.

After performing a sequence of ninja gestures, Sasuke placed his hand against the door's middle section. The mystical barriers shimmered momentarily then vanished. He swung the entrance wide, exposing a cramped chamber devoid of natural light.

"In here," he said tersely.

Once they were all inside, Sasuke closed the door behind them. The seals flared to life once more, bathing the room in a soft blue glow before fading back into the wood.

Naruto looked around curiously. The room was sparsely furnished, containing only a low table and a few cushions. The walls were bare, save for more intricate seals etched into the stone.

"What is this place?" he asked.

"A secure room," Sasuke replied. "Completely soundproof and protected against any kind of eavesdropping or surveillance techniques. Not even the Hokage's crystal ball can see in here."

Naruto whistled, impressed despite himself. "Fancy. But, uh, why'd you bring us here, Sasuke?"

Sasuke fixed Naruto with an intense stare. "Because I want you to spill, dobe. What aren't you telling us?"

Naruto's eyes widened. He glanced between his teammates, a nervous laugh bubbling up. "Wh-what are you talking about? I don't-"

"Cut the crap," Sasuke interrupted. "We both noticed you lying to Mizuki-sensei earlier."

Sakura nodded in agreement. "Your tells were pretty obvious, Naruto. At least to us."

Naruto deflated, shoulders slumping. He sank down onto one of the cushions, avoiding their gazes.

"I... I didn't want to say anything," he mumbled. "It's not exactly something I should be doing."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged a concerned look before sitting down across from their teammate.

"What did you do, Naruto?" Sakura asked gently.

Naruto sighed heavily, running a hand through his spiky hair. "Okay, so... you know how I've been helping the old man with paperwork, right?"

They nodded.

"Well, sometimes he has to leave for a bit - meetings or whatever. And, uh... I might use some extra shadow clones to finish things up faster."

Sakura's brow furrowed. "That doesn't seem so bad. I'm sure the Hokage appreciates the help."

"Yeah, but..." Naruto grimaced. "That leaves me with some extra time. To, you know... look around the office a bit."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You've been snooping."

It wasn't a question. Naruto nodded miserably.

"At first I was just curious, y'know? But then I realized... the old man's security isn't actually that great."

Sakura gasped. "Naruto! You didn't..."

"No! No, I didn't steal anything," Naruto assured her quickly. "But I did... take a look at some things I probably shouldn't have."

Sasuke leaned forward, interest gleaming in his dark eyes. "Like what?"

Naruto hesitated, then said in a rush, "The Forbidden Scroll. It was the same one Ebisu-sensei got me access to when I learned the Mass Shadow Clone jutsu. I thought maybe it was a fake or something, but... it wasn't."

A heavy silence fell over the room. Sakura broke it first, her voice tinged with worry.

"Please tell me you didn't try to copy any of it."

Naruto shook his head vigorously. "No way! I'm not that stupid." He paused, then admitted sheepishly, "I did make a bunch of clones read it over and over, though. Then I dispelled them before the old man got back, so I'd remember parts of it."

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. "Clever," he murmured, sounding almost impressed. "Can you perform any of the jutsu now?"

"Hell no," Naruto said emphatically. "That Mass Shadow Clone technique I learned? It'd kill most jonin from immediate chakra exhaustion. And that's one of the safer ones in there."

He shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself. "Most of the other jutsu are just fancy ways to kill yourself and take your enemy with you. And the others..."

Naruto's voice dropped to a whisper. "Some of them are really, really tempting to use. But... I'm kinda scared that if someone asked me for it, I wouldn't be able to say no. 'Cause I want to use it too, you know?"

Sakura reached out, placing a comforting hand on Naruto's arm. "What do you mean, Naruto? What kind of jutsu are you talking about?"

Naruto shook his head, refusing to meet their eyes. "I... I can't. I shouldn't have looked in the first place. I'm trying to put it out of my mind."

Sasuke and Sakura exchanged worried glances. Whatever Naruto had seen in that scroll had clearly shaken him deeply.

"It's okay, Naruto," Sakura said softly. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

Sasuke leaned forward, his dark eyes intense. "Naruto, you could help us with something important."

Naruto blinked, confusion evident on his face. "Help you? How?"

Sasuke exchanged a glance with Sakura before continuing. "Someone has been... suggesting that the Hokage might have had something to do with the Uchiha Clan massacre."

"What?!" Naruto exploded, jumping to his feet. "No way! The old man would never-"

"Calm down, Naruto," Sakura interjected, her voice soothing. She reached out, gently tugging him back down to his cushion. "We don't believe it either. It doesn't fit with what we know of the Hokage."

Naruto settled, but his face remained stormy. "Then why even bring it up?"

Sasuke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Because while we don't think the Hokage ordered it, we do know he isn't telling us the whole truth about what happened."

"And," Sakura added carefully, "we think there might be other secrets he's keeping. Things he's not telling us, or waiting to reveal."

Naruto's brow furrowed, his hand unconsciously drifting to his stomach. "Other... secrets?"

Sakura nodded. "We were hoping you might be able to look into it. With your access to the Hokage's office, you might be able to find information that could clear things up."

"You want me to spy on the old man?" Naruto asked, his voice small.

"Not spy," Sasuke corrected firmly. "Investigate. To prove his innocence."

Naruto chewed his lip, clearly conflicted. "I don't know, guys. It feels wrong."

"We understand," Sakura said softly. "And we wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. But Sasuke deserves to know the truth about what happened to his family."

Naruto's gaze flickered to Sasuke, taking in the barely concealed pain in his teammate's eyes. He sighed heavily. "Alright. I'll... I'll see what I can find out."

"Thank you, Naruto," Sasuke said, genuine gratitude in his voice.

"But," Sakura stressed, her tone becoming serious, "you need to be extremely careful. If you get caught..."

Naruto nodded grimly. "Yeah, I know. It'd be bad."

"More than bad," Sasuke warned. "It could be considered treason."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the weight of what they were planning settled on them.

"So," Naruto said after a moment, forcing a weak smile, "any ideas on where I should start looking?"

Sakura pulled out a small notebook and flipped it open. "We've compiled a list of potential leads and inconsistencies we've noticed in the official story. Focus on these first."

As she began to go over the details with Naruto, Sasuke leaned back, his mind racing. He hated involving Naruto in this, knowing the risks it posed to his teammate. But if there was even a chance of uncovering the truth about that night...

He clenched his fists, pushing down the familiar surge of anger and grief. Soon, he promised himself. Soon he would have answers.

The trio spent the next hour going over their plan, refining details and discussing potential scenarios. As they wrapped up, Naruto glanced at the time and jumped to his feet.

"Crap! I'm gonna be late for my shift with the old man!"

Sasuke nodded. "Go. And remember-"

"Be careful. Yeah, I got it," Naruto said, flashing them a thumbs up before darting out of the room.

Once he was gone, Sakura turned to Sasuke, worry evident in her green eyes. "Are you sure about this? If Naruto gets caught..."

"He won't," Sasuke said firmly. "The dobe may be an idiot sometimes, but he's surprisingly good at stealth when he wants to be."

Sakura nodded, though she didn't look entirely convinced. "I hope you're right."

As they made their way out of the hidden room, Sasuke's thoughts drifted to his brother. Wherever Itachi was, Sasuke swore he would uncover the truth. And when he did...

He shook his head, pushing the dark thoughts aside. One step at a time.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Team 7 gathered at their usual meeting spot, each lost in thought about the upcoming Chunin exams. Sakura fidgeted with her new Uchiha-emblazoned dress, while Naruto bounced on his heels, barely containing his excitement. Sasuke, as usual, maintained his cool facade, though a hint of anticipation gleamed in his dark eyes.

"Alright, team," Sakura said, breaking the silence. "We should talk to the others about the exam. See where everyone stands."

Naruto nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Let's start with Hinata's team!"

They made their way to Team 8's training ground, where they found Kiba, Shino, and Hinata engaged in a light sparring session. As they approached, Akamaru's ears perked up, and he let out a happy bark.

Kiba grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Hey guys! Here to scope out the competition?"

Sakura laughed. "Something like that. We wanted to see if you're all entering the Chunin exams too."

"Hell yeah, we are!" Kiba exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. "We're gonna crush it!"

Shino adjusted his sunglasses. "While Kiba's enthusiasm is... excessive, I share his confidence in our abilities. Why? Because we have trained diligently and our teamwork is exemplary."

Hinata stepped forward, a soft smile on her face. "We've been working really hard. I think we're ready."

Sakura couldn't help but notice the change in Hinata's demeanor. Gone was the timid, stuttering girl from their academy days. In her place stood a young woman with quiet confidence and determination. Her eyes met Naruto's, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.

"That's great!" Naruto said, beaming at Hinata. "We'll all kick butt together!"

As they chatted, Sakura found herself pondering Hinata's transformation. It was clear that her relationship with Naruto had played a significant role in boosting her self-esteem. What surprised Sakura, however, was the apparent lack of resistance from the Hyuga clan.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

She'd half-expected some sort of arranged marriage drama or clan politics to interfere. Yet here Hinata was, openly dating the class clown (albeit one with mysterious parentage and the Hokage's favor). It was... refreshing.

The group decided to go grab lunch, and found Team 10 at Yakiniku Q, Choji happily grilling meat while Ino berated Shikamaru for his lack of enthusiasm about training.

"Bun-butt!" Ino called out as they entered. "Come to throw in the towel already?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, Pig. We're here to talk about the Chunin exams."

Ino's eyes lit up with competitive fire. "Oh? Well, you might as well sit this one out, Sakura. That way, when I make Chunin before you, you'll have the excuse of 'being held back' to explain it."

"As if!" Sakura retorted, her own competitive spirit flaring. "I'll run circles around you in the exam, just you watch!"

Shikamaru sighed heavily. "This whole thing is such a drag. But not going would be even more troublesome. Ino wouldn't shut up about it for months."

"Damn straight," Ino said, smirking.

Choji paused in his grilling to chime in. "I think we'll do well. We've been training hard, and our teamwork is solid."

Sasuke, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. "Choji, what are the current odds on Naruto's parentage?"

"Huh?" Naruto blinked, confusion evident on his face. "What are you talking about?"

Choji grinned, pulling out a small notebook. "Well, the current favorite is the Fourth Hokage at 1.2 to 1. Orochimaru is second at 2 to 1, and there are a bunch of others with higher odds."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?! You guys are betting on who my parents are?!"

Hinata giggled softly, patting Naruto's back in consolation. "It's been going on for a while, Naruto-kun. People are very curious about you."

"But... but... Orochimaru?!" Naruto sputtered, his face a mix of horror and indignation.

Before anyone could respond, a new voice cut in. "Ooh, I want in on this action!"

Team Gai had arrived, with Tenten eagerly approaching Choji to place her bet. Neji followed, his pale eyes scanning the group with a hint of disdain.

"So, the rookies are entering the Chunin exams as well," he said, his tone dismissive. "How... quaint."

His gaze lingered on Hinata, who met it without flinching. Sakura noticed a flicker of surprise in Neji's eyes before he looked away.

Lee, ever the enthusiast, chimed in. "Don't be like that, Neji! They proved themselves quite capable during our joint mission in Wave. Their flames of youth burn brightly!"

Ino preened at the praise, sidling up to Lee. "You really think so, Lee-kun?" she purred, causing the spandex-clad ninja to blush furiously.

Tenten rolled her eyes at her teammate's antics before addressing the group. "Having the exam in Konoha will make it relatively safer, at least. Home field advantage and all that."

Sakura nodded, then hesitated before speaking. "We've seen some... interesting people entering the village for the exam. There's a team from Suna that seems pretty intense, especially this guy named Gaara. And then there's Haku and his team from Mist."

The mention of Haku caused a stir among those who hadn't know he was in the village.

"No way that beautiful creature is a guy," Ino declared, crossing her arms. "I refuse to believe it."

Shikamaru ignored Ino's outburst, his brow furrowed in thought. "Suna is our ally, right? They wouldn't send someone truly dangerous. And Haku, despite his power, fought non-lethally and treated you and me decently when we were captives, Sakura."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What do you think, Shikamaru? About the exam and these foreign ninja?"

Shikamaru sighed, adopting his thinking pose. The group fell silent, waiting for the Nara genius to share his insights. After a few moments, he spoke.

"This is probably a good opportunity for both Suna and Mist," he began. "Suna's been losing clients to Leaf lately, and Mist just went through a quick but bloody civil war. They both want to project strength."

He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Haku is well above genin level, probably above all but the most elite chunin too. His teammates are likely the best Mist has to offer. They want to show that Mist hasn't been weakened much by the turmoil and that they're taking a 'kinder' approach under the new Mizukage."

"The Kages often show up for the later rounds of the exam," Shikamaru added. "It would be a perfect excuse for Mei Terumi to meet and discuss things with the Hokage without appearing desperate or weak."

The group absorbed this information, many nodding in understanding.

"What about Suna?" Sasuke pressed.

Shikamaru's expression grew more serious. "Suna is a bit more worrying. They might be willing to go further to show why their Daimyo should still be hiring them instead of Leaf shinobi. However, they're in too poor a position to seriously jeopardize their relationship with us. So, likely a bit more brutal, but still manageable."

A thoughtful silence fell over the group as they considered Shikamaru's analysis.

Naruto was the first to break it, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "So... what should we do?"

Sakura chewed her lip, thinking. "We prepare as best we can. Train hard, gather information, and watch each other's backs."

Sasuke nodded in agreement. "We can't back down now. This is our chance to prove ourselves and potentially uncover more about what's really going on in the village."

The last part was said softly, meant only for his teammates' ears. Naruto and Sakura exchanged a quick glance, remembering their secret agreement to investigate the Uchiha massacre and other village secrets.

Neji, oblivious to Team 7's private concerns, spoke up. "It seems the rookies are more prepared than I initially gave them credit for. Perhaps this exam will be interesting after all."

Tenten grinned, twirling a kunai. "Well, I for one am looking forward to seeing what everyone can do. It's been a while since we've all been able to cut loose."

Lee struck his signature pose, teeth gleaming. "Yes! Let us fan the flames of our youth and show the other villages the strength of Konoha's next generation!"

Ino cheered in agreement, while Shikamaru muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "troublesome" under his breath.

As the conversation devolved into excited chatter about training plans and potential strategies, Sakura found her mind wandering. The Chunin exams were clearly going to be more than just a test of their skills. Political maneuvering, inter-village tensions, and the potential for danger all loomed on the horizon.

And then there were the secrets they were trying to uncover. Would the exams provide an opportunity to gather more information? Or would they be too busy just trying to survive?

Sakura's gaze drifted to her teammates. Naruto, loudly proclaiming how he was going to "blow everyone away" with his skills. Sasuke, quiet but attentive, likely analyzing every word for potential advantages.

They'd come so far since their days at the academy. But were they ready for what lay ahead?

As if sensing her thoughts, Sasuke caught her eye and gave a small nod. The message was clear: whatever came, they'd face it together.

With renewed determination, Sakura rejoined the conversation, offering her own insights on potential exam challenges. As the group of young ninja continued to discuss and plan, the air hummed with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

The Chunin exams were coming, and with them, the promise of change. For better or worse, nothing would be the same after this.

As the sun began to set, the group gradually dispersed, each team heading off to continue their preparations. Team 7 found themselves walking together, lost in thought about the day's discussions.

"Hey, guys," Naruto said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you really think I could be the Fourth Hokage's son?"

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged glances. It was a question they'd all wondered about at some point.

"It's... possible," Sakura said carefully. "You do look a bit like him, and it would explain why the Third Hokage seems to pay special attention to you."

Sasuke nodded. "It would also explain why your parentage is such a closely guarded secret. The Fourth had a lot of enemies."

Naruto's brow furrowed. "But if that's true, why wouldn't they just tell me? Why keep it a secret from me?"

"Maybe to protect you," Sakura suggested. "Or maybe there's more to it that we don't understand yet."

"Which is why we need to keep digging," Sasuke added, his voice low. "The truth is out there, we just need to find it."

Naruto nodded, his usual exuberance tempered by the weight of their secret mission. "Right. I'll keep looking when I'm in the old man's office. There's got to be something there."

As they reached the point where their paths home diverged, the three teammates paused.

"We should get some extra training in before the exams start," Sakura said. "Maybe work on our teamwork a bit more?"

"Good idea," Sasuke agreed. "Meet at training ground 3 tomorrow morning?"

Naruto grinned. "You bet! We'll show everyone what Team 7 can do!"

With final nods of agreement, the three split up, each heading to their respective homes. As Sakura walked, her mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming exams, their secret investigation, and the changes that seemed to be looming on the horizon.

----------------------------------------

Team Seven had just finished an intense training session, their bodies aching but their spirits high. As they walked away from the training grounds, Naruto stretched his arms above his head with a loud yawn.

"Man, I'm beat! But that was some good work today, guys," he grinned.

Sakura nodded, her ears twitching slightly as she caught the sound of distant laughter. "Definitely. We're really starting to gel as a team."

Sasuke, ever stoic, merely grunted in agreement. But there was a hint of satisfaction in his eyes that his teammates had learned to recognize.

"Hey," Sakura said suddenly, an idea striking her. "Why don't we hit up the hot springs? It'd be a great way to relax and soothe our muscles after all that training."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Oh man, that sounds amazing! What do you think, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha considered for a moment before shrugging. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."

With their decision made, the three genin made their way to Konoha's public hot springs. As they approached, Sakura's ears twitched again, this time picking up a sound that made her frown.

"Wait a second," she said, holding up a hand to stop her teammates. "I hear something... weird."

Naruto tilted his head. "Weird how?"

"It sounds like... giggling? Really perverted giggling," Sakura explained, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "A peeping tom?"

Sakura nodded, her enhanced hearing pinpointing the source of the sound. "This way," she said, leading them around to the back of the hot springs.

As they rounded the corner, they spotted a familiar figure crouched by the fence, peering through a small hole. White hair cascaded down his back, and he was dressed in distinctive red and green clothing.

"Is that..." Naruto started, his voice a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

"Jiraiya," Sasuke finished, his tone flat.

Sakura, her face set in a determined expression, marched right up to the Sannin. "Excuse me, Jiraiya-sama," she said, her voice deceptively sweet.

The man, too engrossed in his "research," responded without turning around. "Eh? What is it? I'm busy here."

"I was just wondering," Sakura continued, maintaining her innocent tone, "what are your favorite features on women?"

Jiraiya, still not fully registering who he was talking to, began to answer absently. "Well, if you must know, I'm partial to—" He suddenly froze, his brain catching up with the situation. Slowly, he turned to face Sakura, his face a mix of horror and embarrassment.

"S-Sakura! What are you— I mean, you're WAY too young for me! I may be a super pervert, but I'm not a pedophile!" he sputtered, backing away from the fence.

Sakura waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, relax. I'm not asking for me. Queen Joousa wanted to know so she could further refine her human form to your liking."

At the mention of the Rabbit Queen, Jiraiya's face went through a rapid series of emotions: surprise, intrigue, fear, and finally, a kind of desperate confusion. He clutched his head, muttering to himself.

"Boobies... but bunny... but boobies... but bunny... bunny boobies..."

Naruto, watching this display with a mixture of amusement and concern, piped up. "What's the matter, Pervy Sage? Don't you want a pretty lady like Queen Joousa after you?"

Jiraiya's head snapped up, his eyes wide. He opened his mouth to explain, but what came out was a jumbled mess of words and half-formed thoughts.

"I... it's not... you don't understand... the negotiations... the migration..."

Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya tried again. "I just got back from negotiations with the Rabbit clan in Wave. They're starting their migration from their old Great Warren to the new one in Wave. It's a delicate situation, and the Queen is... well, she's..."

"Interested in you?" Sakura supplied helpfully.

Jiraiya groaned. "She makes me feel like a piece of steak being served to a starving man! It's... it's too much!"

Sakura put her hands on her hips, her expression stern. "Now, now, Jiraiya-sama. Queen Joousa is a remarkable leader. She's intelligent, resourceful, and has done wonders for her clan. Not to mention, she's quite beautiful in her human form. You should be flattered by her attention!"

As Sakura continued to extol the virtues of the Rabbit Queen, Jiraiya's face grew more and more pained. Finally, he held up his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright! Can we just... drop this? Please?" he begged. Then, a sly look crossed his face. "Tell you what, if you let this go, I'll teach you something. How's that sound?"

The three genin exchanged quick glances before turning back to Jiraiya with eager expressions.

"Deal!" they said in unison.

Jiraiya's shoulders slumped in relief, even as he muttered under his breath about "precocious brats." Straightening up, he gestured for them to follow him to a more secluded area.

"Alright, listen up," he began, his tone becoming more serious. "What I'm about to teach you is..."

----------------------------------------

Team Seven approached the building where the Chunin exams were to be held, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through them. Sakura's ears twitched, picking up the sounds of other genin teams chattering as they entered. Naruto was practically bouncing with each step, while Sasuke maintained his usual stoic demeanor, though there was a glint of anticipation in his eyes.

As they neared the entrance, they spotted a familiar figure leaning against the wall - their sensei, Kakashi Hatake. He pushed off the wall as they approached, his visible eye crinkling in what they had come to recognize as a smile.

"Ah, my cute little genin," Kakashi greeted them. "Ready for the big day?"

"You bet we are, sensei!" Naruto exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air.

Sakura nodded, a determined smile on her face. "We've been training hard for this."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, which his teammates knew was as close to enthusiasm as he usually got.

Kakashi chuckled, then his tone turned a bit more serious. "Before you go in, there's something I should mention. The Chunin exams are a team event. If any one of you had decided not to participate, none of you would have been able to enter."

The three genin blinked in surprise, exchanging glances with each other.

"Wait, really?" Naruto asked, scratching his head. "I guess we didn't even think about that."

Sakura's brow furrowed. "We just assumed we'd all be going together. We didn't even consider deciding individually."

Even Sasuke looked a bit taken aback. "It... didn't occur to us to make separate decisions," he admitted.

Kakashi's eye crinkled again, this time in genuine pride. "And that, my adorable students, is exactly why I think you're going to do great in these exams."

The genin looked at their sensei, a bit confused but pleased by his praise.

"You've already internalized one of the most important aspects of being a shinobi - teamwork," Kakashi explained. "You didn't make individual decisions because you're already thinking as a unit. That's going to serve you well in there."

Naruto grinned widely, throwing his arms around his teammates' shoulders. "Ha! See? We're awesome!"

Sakura laughed, her ears perking up happily. "I guess we are pretty good together, aren't we?"

Even Sasuke allowed a small smirk to cross his face. "We've come a long way since we were first assigned to the same team."

Kakashi nodded approvingly. "Indeed you have. Now, before you go in, I just want to say... I'm proud of all of you. You've worked hard, and no matter what happens in there, know that you've already proven yourselves to be exceptional shinobi."

The three genin straightened up, touched by their sensei's words.

"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura said softly. "For everything you've taught us."

"Yeah, thanks, sensei!" Naruto added enthusiastically. "We'll make you proud in there, believe it!"

Sasuke simply nodded, but the look in his eyes conveyed his gratitude.

Kakashi stepped aside, gesturing towards the entrance. "Well then, I won't keep you any longer. Good luck in there, Team Seven."

With a final nod to their sensei, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura turned towards the building's entrance. They paused for just a moment, each taking a deep breath.

"Ready?" Sakura asked, looking at her teammates.

"Ready," Sasuke confirmed.

"Let's do this!" Naruto exclaimed.

Together, as one unit, Team Seven stepped forward to face the challenges that awaited them in the Chunin exams.