Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Naruto I am simply borrowing them to create a story of my own, each and all of the characters (excluding OC's that shall be introduced later) are owned by someone else.

Authors note: Ola Everybody i've updated this chapter a little i tried to make it a little easyier to read thats for sure. Second I went in and changed a few lines i knew i made typo's on. This chapter was the most perfected of all the chapters as it was the first and i had taken a week preparing it for its debue. It did really well and now i wish i had taken the same time with all the others. This story is placed a 3 years after the time skip so everyone's age is around 18-21 (Most of the rookies are 18 and later Temari comes in so she'll be the oldest at 21)

Couplings: NaruXHina, TemariXShika, ShinoXIno, and TentenXNeji thats it so far. More pairings are possible and i'm making a note now that you must all adhire too. If you submit a review asking for specific couplings. Take in mind that this story is gonna be long. And even if i don't it too i will break up couplings and make new ones for fans or plot devices. And trust me a few of these couples break up as plot devices.

Trials of the Shinobi

A Naruto Fan-Fiction

By Dark-Angel-Cronos

Part 1: A new Mission and New Country
Chapter 1: Suspicious

The sun rises on Konoha to begin a new day but this day is special as it marks the 5,000th anniversary of a long forgotten contest of ninja skill much like the Chunnin exam but more deadly and far more intriguing. This contest is the main point of our story; it'll bring together ninja from all over the world to show to compete in a competition to see who is the master of all ninja, a true Kage of every nation, this competition was long forgotten by all the nations as it hasn't been held in over 500 years but now at last a new ninja village that is composed of shinobi from around the world and has become a unified village that contains many secrets of every village including jutsu's, artifacts, and forms of competition that when brought together have renewed the age old contest and now that the contest has been revived its occurrence could successfully shift the balance of all shinobi towards this new village or even worse essentially allow a village to gain power strong enough to destroy all other villages and to preserve the current order all the villages around the world are sending in their best shinobi of all rank to compete.

"A SPECIAL MISSION!" Naruto jumped in the air throwing his fist into the air as he received the letter frightening off letter carrier and successfully waking up most of the neighborhood.

"Yes! Hmmmm the letter says that I need to report to Tsunade as soon as possible, I guess I should get moving then" Naruto stuffing the letter into his pocket ran off in the direction of the Hokage's office with ninja speed his golden hair drying from his shower with the wind blasting him in the face as he ran. Naruto had recently been promoted to Chunnin after successfully returning Sasuke Uchiha from Orochimarus clutches so he had been expecting a new mission for a while. Upon arriving at the Hokage's office he noticed that he wasn't alone several other Shinobi were waiting outside the Hokage's door. Naruto noticed that Sakura, Sasuke and Kakashi, his ninja team, in a corner waiting his arrival as they greeted him with small motion to come over there.

"Hey guys what's with all the other shinobi showing up? I thought this was a special mission surely it can't take this many shinobi for one mission can it?" Naruto was starting to question the requirements of the mission as he noticed that there were at least 6 other shinobi teams here each consisting of 3 trainees and one mentor.

"Yeah Kakashi sensei why are there so many teams." Sakura questioned her mentor while noticing that a lot of their friends were among the ones chosen to go on this mission.

"I'm not sure, I've never seen a mission that required this many shinobi." Kakashi lowered his Adult novel from his face to reveal that he had a slightly worried look in his eye as his head band covered his other Sharingan eye.

"There's at least 10 Jounin in this room, along with over 25 chunnin as well plenty of Shinobi I'm not sure about." Sasuke was leaning against the wall his bangs covering his eyes but the rest of his team could clearly see he was using his Sharingan to inspect the ninja chosen for this mission. Naruto turned and took count of who he knew quickly.

"Ino, Chouji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, and their Jounin mentors." Naruto was talking quietly his breath was getting heavy as he noticed that between them and the ones he knew there was an unbelievably large amount of ninja strength. He could only guess what with the other teams would bring to the picture; he guessed the mission must be something unbelievable like when they had stormed the sound village and confronted Orochimaru and his sound shinobi.

"46" Sasuke announced.

"What?" Sakura was confused. "46 what?"

"46 Chunnin, at least meaning there's quite a few Jounin." Sasuke began lowering his face so that his hair covered his face so no one but his team could tell he was talking.

"See Neji and Shikamaru are Jounin so they lower the ratio of Chunnin to Jounin by 2 meaning that there are 46 Chunnin not counting us meaning there's 18 Jounin 19 if you count Kakashi and add us into the mix of Chunnin but we can pretty much agree all of our skills are Jounin worthy just we haven't been promoted yet." Sasuke finished as his eyes turned back to normal and he lifted his head towards his team.

"That's insane! 19 ninja teams!" Naruto had become ecstatic and raised his voice alerting attention to himself and others. Sasuke quickly leaned over and knocked Naruto's head down then pulled him close so that he could whisper.

"Shut up you idiot, stop drawing attention to yourself and there are only 17 teams but 19 Jounin at least considering all others are Chunnin and the ratio remains the same." Sasuke pushed Naruto's head away as the blonde fell back on the floor the black haired nin quickly took his place against the wall again. Sakura chuckled at her two teammates it was good to have the team back together she had missed they're bickering and Sasuke's cool and calm nature.

"Come on Naruto," Sakura offered her hand to the blonde "whatever the mission we have to stay together I'm not losing either of you two again." Sakura made sure Sasuke heard her words and noted him as he gave a little humph in acknowledgement. Sakura was still head over heels in love with Sasuke and Naruto had actually started to forget about Sakura-chan as he had recently noticed someone else who actually liked him back. Naruto noticed his new interest standing off to the side shyly admiring him while her two teammates talked amongst themselves. Naruto gave a wave and made a small signal with his head for her to meet him off to the side.

"I'll be right back you guys." Naruto ran off with this poor excuse to be the only thing left behind.

"NARUTO! Where are you going?" Sakura called after him, he would disappear on her like this a lot lately it made her feel weird like she was jealous she didn't have his undivided attention all the time anymore.

"Let him be, Tsunade doesn't seem to want to talk to us yet we can afford a little relaxation time before our briefing." Kakashi motioned for the other two to do as the wished as he was deeply buried in his book.

"I'll be back I'm going to talk to Lee and Neji" Sasuke excused himself as Naruto and walked off towards the others leaving Sakura befuddled that her teammates had abandoned her.
Off to the side we see Naruto talking with Hinata.

"What is it Naruto-kun?" After becoming a little closer to Naruto, Hinata wouldn't stumble with her words as often, but still blushed and looked down shyly. When she addressed him.

"I just wanted to talk with you Hinata-chan. Are you doing okay? Last night after I told you I had been promoted you seemed so happy yet after dinner so sad." Naruto made it a habit to lift Hinata's face up with a finger under her chin so he could make eye contact. "And now you still seem sad."

"Naruto-kun its nothing, just I've just been a little confused about some stuff lately." Although Hinata and Naruto had become good friends over the past 3 years since the end of their first Chunnin exam, she was still uncertain about how Naruto felt about her. Even more recently he had been spending quality time with her, well he called it hanging out, but he always seemed to make an excuse like the others, including Sakura, had other things to do so he thought he'd spend time with her. It was really bugging her, although he was spending time with her he often made it sound like it was the last place he wanted to be. "Naruto-kun, do…do you like spending time with me?" Hinata had finally gotten the words out; she was trying her best not to stumble them as she was becoming very nervous.

"Huh?" Naruto was confused, he had thought that he had mad it clear he liked her but he guessed maybe it had flown over her head.

"Gah, what a stupid question to ask" Naruto turned away quickly before she could see him smile.

"Huh, why is it a stupid question?" Hinata's voice became a whisper she felt hurt because she thought she knew what he meant. "You don't like spending time with me do you."

"Yeah you got it." Naruto was still looking away. "I don't like spending time with you," He started then turned towards her leaning in so she was inches away. He gave her a wide smile. "I love spending time with you" his smile got softer as he pulled away watching for a reaction.

"You…you…..lo love…it" Hinata couldn't help but stutter and stumble now. "Naruto-kun….you…you're so mean," She was trying to sound angry but a giggle escaped "why did you say you didn't like spending time with me. You made me sad." She tried her best to pout but her smile couldn't go away. He had said he loved spending time with her.

"Because, I don't just like spending time with you, I love it" he gave her another smile. "You're great to be around and hate seeing you sad so I'm sorry you were sad at first but isn't it better now?" He wraped an arm around her and gave her an affectionate squeeze like hug.

"Yes, but Naruto, I have another question now." Hinata felt happy enough and with him being so sweet just now she thought she might not faint if she asked. "Naruto do….do you……do you want to….well…um." It wasn't going well she couldn't get it out, but luckily he caught on and placed a finger over her lips so she didn't have to speak. He moved his finger and she looked at him. He smiled and gave her a nod then leaned in and gave her a light kiss. "Naruto-kun" Hinata stumbled back she felt light headed and fainted but Naruto caught her rushing around to the other side holding her up she didn't draw attention to them. He wasn't ready for this, her fainting and all.

"Hinata-chan wake up" he patted her cheek lightly so she'd wake up and she did. Her face was almost beat red as she realized he was holding her.

"Naruto-kun I'm sorry" she quickly moved away out of his arms and over to the side her face was red and she it she put her hands behind her back and backed into the corner for support. "I'm sorry I fainted, just you…you." She didn't get to finish he had come right next to her and wraped and arm around her back and waist. She was speechless now.

"It's alright, just don't go fainting again." He took her hand with his other and laced his fingers through hers.

"Oh Naruto-kun" Hinata finally knew he liked her back and in her mind she was jumping for joy. 'HE LIKES ME' her mind screamed out but she just smiled and laced her fingers back moving so she could lean against him. "Naruto-kun, will you hold me I'm still a little dizzy" She lied, she wasn't dizzy she just wanted to be close for a while.

"Sure thing Hinata" He unlaced his fingers and moved so she was leaning against him and wrapped both arms around her waist. "There that better" She was only a little shorter than him she he could rest his head on her shoulder and whisper to her.

"Yes, thank you Naruto-kun" She nuzzled him and he nuzzled back. "So, what now?" Hinata had always dreamed of this happening but she wasn't sure what to do next.

"I really don't know, but let's keep this our little secret for now okay, I wanna surprise the others later okay." He gave her a smile and pecked her on the cheek. "can you walk or should we stay like this cause I get the feeling we're going to be briefed soon." Truthfully he didn't wanna move from her either but he knew they'd be briefed soon and although he did want to surprise the others he was really just doing it so he wouldn't have Sakura teasing him on the mission today.

"I can walk, and okay I think I'd like to keep it low too." She didn't want Kiba or Shino teasing her although it really wasn't either their styles to tease her they defiantly would if they knew. She moved away but not too far as Naruto had grabbed her hand so she couldn't run off. "What is it I thought we were gonna get ready for the briefing." Hinata gave him a puzzled look.

"What no kiss goodbye?" He gave her a sly smile and stole another kiss before she could react. "I'll talk to you later, and don't go fainting on me okay" He gave her a quick hug and walked off slowly just incase she fainted again he could catch her.

"Okay" Hinata's brain had an overload and she just kind went out of it as she walked back to her group she had a plastered on smile that screamed I'm happy and a expression like she'd never come down off cloud 9.

While all this love fest was going on we change our attention back to Sasuke as he was talking to Neji and Lee off to other side Naruto had been in view and they had noticed Hinata fainting but weren't too worried.

"So like I was saying Sasuke what do you think is going on, all these nin for one mission?" Neji was having thoughts about this and he didn't like any of them.

"I don't know but I can tell it's gonna be big no matter what since she called in all of us" Sasuke was speaking of the Rookie 9 as His, Shikamaru's, and Kiba's teams were often to referred as. "Plus you guys, something important is happening this is gonna be at least A rank." Sasuke looked at Lee who looked like he had something on his mind. "What is it Lee." Lee turned and gave Sasuke gave him a puzzled look.

"It's nothing I assure you, just something Gai sensei said to me earlier, it's been bothering me but its non of you or Neji's concern." Lee seemed anxious now to get off the subject, as luck would have it the door to Tsunade's office had opened and everyone had grown silent. A Jounin with a headband of a foreign village stepped out, a village symbol Sasuke had never seen before.

"Tsunade would like Gai's, Kakashi's, Kureni's, and Asuma's teams to please come in." The unknown Jounin turned around and headed back into the office.

"Hmmm looks like we're about to find out what's going on." Neji was first to move towards the door. As he stepped towards the door slowly followed by the other's Sasuke and Naruto heading back towards Kakashi and Sakura.

"I wonder why all these other ninja are here if it's only these four teams being called?" Sakura said to herself but the boys had overheard and Naruto had something to say.

"It's because we're the best, we retrieved Sasuke remember and we lead the assault on the Sound village, she needs the best." Naruto had suddenly grown rather intense and serious in his tone. Sasuke and Kakashi nodded at his comment and gave Sakura a nod that he was right.

"Hmmm if you guys say so." Sakura finished as the groups had entered the room and she shut the door behind them all.

Authors Note: Okay, chapter 1's editing is done. If you notice i didn't make nay actualy content changes. Thats because it really didn't need them but i did make technical changes here and their as well i placed a single bar of space as a spacer between characters during dialouge. HinXNaru in this one. More couplings later.