My teacher, the Pervy Sage

"G... Gaara..." Kankuro uttered his younger brother's name in terror.

"Kankuro, you've disgraced Sunagakure. Sorry, I apologize on my brother's behalf. I'm Gaara of the Sand Waterfall. May I ask your name?" the red-haired boy asked.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto answered calmly. He released Kankuro's arm and studied the red-haired boy closely.

"A pleasure. Are you taking the Chunin Ninja Exams too?" the red-haired boy asked.

"Yes. Judging by the look of you, I assume you are too," Naruto replied.

"I look forward to fighting you and proving my existence." Gaara turned to his teammates. "Temari, Kankuro, let's go."

With that, he turned and left, his teammates trailing far behind him.

The next day, at the Ninja Academy

Naruto arrived at the academy and headed for the third floor. On the second floor, however, he saw a crowd of genin blocking a door concealed by genjutsu. He had intended to go around them, but then he saw Sasuke shouting at two ninja disguised as guards, demanding that they dispel the genjutsu.

Naruto could hardly believe that the "last Uchiha" was so foolish, casually exposing this preliminary exam designed to weed out the weak. He shook his head and kept walking, ignoring the clash that followed-Rock Lee easily blocked a punch aimed at Sasuke.

Team 7 caught up with Naruto just as he was about to head upstairs.

"Hmph. Even a dead last like you made it here? Looks like they'll let any nobody into this exam. This is an exam for the elite. Weaklings like you should stay home," Sasuke sneered when he saw Naruto.

"Same to you. I was just about to say that myself, Uchiha Sasuke. Small world." Naruto was somewhat annoyed that the Uchiha still thought he was weak.

Sakura was about to defend her beloved Sasuke-kun when Rock Lee arrived and interrupted her.

"Sasuke Uchiha, you're this year's Rookie of the Year, an acknowledged genius. I want to challenge you," Rock Lee said.

Sasuke smiled arrogantly. "You know that, and you still dare challenge me?"

"Yes. I want to prove that hard work can surpass genius," the green-clad ninja declared loudly.

"Fine. You won't beat an Uchiha like me anyway." Sasuke was brimming with confidence, certain that this weirdo could never defeat him.

"I'd advise against it, Uchiha Sasuke. Bushy Brows is strong. I don't think you can win. Probably none of us in this year's graduating class are a match for him," Naruto warned.

Sasuke ignored Naruto's warning and charged at Rock Lee, only for Lee to dodge him effortlessly and then beat him soundly, leaving Sakura staring in shock.

Unfortunately, the shocks weren't over yet. Just as Rock Lee was about to unleash his final move, Team 9's teacher arrived in time to stop him.

"Lee, what are you doing? I told you not to use that move!" said a tall man who looked remarkably like Rock Lee.

"I'm sorry, Guy-sensei. I just wanted to prove that hard work can surpass genius," Rock Lee said dejectedly.

"Lee!"

"Guy-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Guy-sensei!"

"Oh no, look away!" Naruto warned urgently, but it was already too late. All of Team 7 fell under a genjutsu that not even the Sharingan could break-the legendary Demon Beach Sunset.

Team 7 sat there in a daze, unable to look away. Only after the genjutsu ended did they finally go upstairs and enter the examination room.

When Naruto arrived, he saw that the other rookie teams were all there and went over to greet them.

"Hey, everyone! You're all here," Naruto called, trying to ignore Ino and Sakura arguing over the gloomiest person in all of Konoha, if not the entire world.

"Naruto, you're here too? I thought you didn't have a team, and that was why you always went on missions with other teams," Choji asked.

"Yeah. My teacher, the Pervy Sage, convinced the old man Hokage to let me enter alone," Naruto said. The surrounding genin were stunned; they hadn't expected him to speak of the Hokage so disrespectfully.

"What a drag," was all Shikamaru said.

"If we have to fight anyone, I'm definitely picking him. That dead last doesn't even have a team," Kiba said.

"You'd better keep your voice down. Don't make enemies for yourself," said a silver-haired boy with round glasses who was two or three years older than the rookies.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked warily.