Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Naruto except OC's

Thinking- 'whatever'

Speaking-"huh"

Kyuubi-'hate'

Summary- Naruto has been hiding behind a mask most of his life. Come to the Chunin Exams, he takes it off. Bloodline and Smart Naruto First Ever Fanfic accept flames though.

The sun was shining brightly over the trees and through the mist. There was no interruption of any kind to disturb the tranquility of the forest. Not even the orange bound boy sitting on one of the branches seemed to be an intruder to the area. It seemed like he was common amongst the wild and nature accepted him.

Naruto was just sitting there watching the sunrise and thinking of the future. 'What's going to happen when I get back to Konoha. I know the Chunin Exams are in the next few months so there is a chance that I'll see them there. What do you think I should do Akane.

'Why don't you just show them all the true you kit. I'm tired of this mask of the fool that you wear to hide from others.'

'I don't know. The future is always unclear but if it comes to it I will take it off. It's already getting hardy to hold. But I have a feeling that I won't be using it anymore after the next few months.'

'Good. Well since there is nothing to do or anything exciting to watch I'm taking a nap.'

'Okay, I'll wake you if there is anything special.'

Naruto got up from his spot and started jumping through the forest. He came to a clearing near a cliff. In front of him stood a sword stuck in the ground in front of two places where the ground was disturbed.

"Zabuza, Haku, I hope to see you again one day. Haku you taught me a new thing about life. I'll always fight to protect those precious to me. You both would have been precious to me too if you guys were still around. Well this is goodbye for now."

Naruto paid his respects than jumped away without noticing the two shadows in the trees disappear also.

Naruto reached Tazuna's house where the other members of his team were waiting for him.

'Ready to play the part of the jester' " We leaving now Kakashi-sensei" Kakashi turned around to see him and said "Yeah, we're just waiting for you to go" "Hurry up you baka, we were waiting for a long time for you to get here. Where were you? I bet you fell asleep. Didn't you BAKA!!." Sakura was shouting at him.

"Sorry Sakura-chan, I'll go and grab my bag from upstairs and then I'll be ready" Naruto put on his fake smile and ran inside the house to grab his stuff.

Naruto came back in a minute ready to leave. So they then headed out to the bridge and then back to Konoha.

Once they reached the bridge the noticed that everyone from the village were there.

Inari stepped up to the group to say his goodbye. "well thanks for everything that you guys did for us. The rest of the village wanted to see the heroes of wave off. Naruto thanks for being here for us and teaching me to fight for what I believe in."

"No problem Inari, it was not only me but Sasuke Sakura and Kakashi-sensei too that helped" Sakura smiled at Inari while Kakashi did his eye smile and Sasuke grunted and smirked

Inari stepped aside to let team 7 go ahead as the villagers cheered them on and shouted goodbyes to the four people. Tazuna then stepped up and asked what to name the bridge.

Inari stated " we should name it the Great Naruto Bridge" The rest of the crowd agreed because they had heard what he had done to save Tsunami and Inari as well as inspire the village to fight. Tazuna then stepped up "what a great name for the bridge. Named after the hero who inspired a village to fight for themselves. From now on the bridge will be named THE GREAT NARUTO BRIDGE."

A few days later….

"Sensei are we there…" "SHUT UP YOU BAKA, you've been saying the same thing every ten minutes" Sakura was getting tired of hearing Naruto ask if they were there over and over again. "Sasuke-kun, when we get back to the village, you want to go on a date with me." Sakura resumed her routine of trying to ask out Sasuke not noticing that she has been repeating herself as well. Every time Sasuke just grunted and ignore her wile she continued ranting and asking him out. Kakashi just continued on the path reading his book while also giggling like a school girl. Naruto just said "gomen Sakura-chan" again and continued on just thinking to himself. 'Man she is annoying but I had to just choose her to be my Mask's crush. I feel sorry for Sasuke but he looks like he can handle it. I hate to have a group of girls after me. That would just be horrible to have girls after you. Thank god that Akane is asleep, or else she would be yelling at me not to lump all girls together. Oh well I just have to deal with being in "love" with her. I know that the village is less than an hour away if we continue at this pace. I can already see the Hokage Monument'

The journey was just quiet form there except for Sakura's ranting and perverted giggling. They made it to the gates while the guards were just sitting there. Kakashi had his book put away before they reached the gates. "Team 7 reporting back from a mission in Nami" The guards just nodded and let them through. When they saw Naruto walk in last they smiled at him and waved while the rest of the team headed towards the Hokage's office. Kotetsu and Izumo were always nice to him. "Guard duty is always the most boring job out of every other job in the village. It just makes me want to quit being a ninja just so I can get away from this. Nobody important ever comes through. But I guess team 7 got lucky and had a good mission. Naruto still looks happy and I guess he enjoys it."

Back to Naruto

Team 7 was just standing there waiting to speak to the Sandaime and report about their mission. Teams 8 and 10 had gotten back from their missions as well and met up with Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Team 7 was up next to state their report. Kakashi stepped forward to state the basics of the mission.

"Team 7 reporting their C turn A rank mission. Mission success and Bridge Builder was able to build the bridge without getting killed. The payment for the A rank will be paid in the next month as stated by Tazuna."

The Sandaime looked at every one of the team and than stopped to look at Naruto just standing there. He felt a great pang of guilt looking at his adopted grandson. 'Minato, I wonder sometimes if you would have chosen not to have used Naruto if you knew what has happened to him.' "Good, Kakashi, I expect a full report tomorrow, you are all excused. Naruto I have to speak with you alone later. Come back within an hour"

Teams 7, 8, and 10 started thinking different things after this meeting.

Sakura 'Baka probably pulled a prank before we left and so is in trouble with that.'

Sasuke 'Hn Dobe'

Ino 'Sasuke is so cool to go to an A rank mission, Naruto probably caused trouble there to be scolded in an hour'

Chouji 'wonder whats going to happen to Naruto'

Shikamaru 'toublesome'

Kiba 'Can't believe they got an A rank. Bet the dobe did nothing so he's in trouble'

Shino '…'

Hinata 'Naruto'

Naruto "okay Jiji. I'll see you in an hour. I bet it's to teach me on how to be Hokage. Yatta!!"

Hour later

"Jiji I'm here so what is that you want. Is a new jutsu or are you going to fit me for my Hokage robes. Or it could be…" "Naruto, you can take off the mask when you're around me."

Naruto was smiling when he came in but once the Hokage told him to take off the mask he would. The old man was the only one that knew it was a mask. He was not called the professor for nothing. So his face became devoid of emotion and his eyes that were once electric blue that sparkled full of joy and hope turned to duller and blank. "what is that you wish to speak with me Jiji." " As you know, the Chunin Exams are hosted here in a couple of months. Other villages will be sending their best Genin to participate and show the strength of their village." The Sandaime paused at the moment because he did not know how to tell the young man in front of him, but he did not have to. " Yes it is and that's not why I'm here. You're going to tell me that they are also coming. Aren't they Jiji." The silence and the look on the Old Man confirmed it. " If the are coming then I will have to deal with it myself. I thank you Jiji for always being there and for trying to protect me, but I am going to have to face her someday and it might as well be sooner. Arigato. Jiji." He then started to leave the office while he pondered to himself. ' I guess that if I have to take off my mask its going to be for something special and nothing is more special than when meeting your mother.' As he walked out the door, he put on his mask for the last time.