AN: Kind of AU because the timeline is warped. I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. Blah, blah. Usual disclaimer. On with the story! XD

Naruto stood in the clearing, holding the gifts Kakashi had given him. He thought about the last time he was here, working on complete his Rasengan: Wind Shuriken. It had been a long time. It had been even longer since he'd seen the swords. They were the Fujaku Hishō Shōken, once used by Kujaku. After learning that Naruto was a wind user, Kakashi saw fit to let him have it.

All week he'd been training, figuring out how to use it. The first day, he'd figured out how to use a minimal amount of chakra and separate the one sword into two twin swords. On the second day he figured out how to use the Wind Hurricane technique and on the third day, he discovered something else. Not only did it use a fraction of his chakra to deliver a devastating blow, but it could also be used to create a shield made entirely of wind and thrown weapons could be sent flying back at the ones who'd assaulted him. It was so strong that some of Yamato's Wood Style justus couldn't even penetrate it. Today was the fifth day.

Naruto closed his eyes, concentrating on gathering his chakra. He raised one sword, visualized a single Wind Slice and opened his eyes.

"Kaze Suraisu!" He brought it back down, literally sending the a thin but powerful Wind Slice forward and cutting the air in front on him. It didn't travel far.

Naruto bit down hard in frustration.

"I gotta get this. I'll need more than just the Rasengan bring back Sasuke." This made his mind wander. Although, the war had ended, Sasuke refused to return to the Hidden Leaf. He thought about his friend and rival, the whole reason why he was doing this training. He imagined what would happen when their two swords clashed. Lightning chakra against wind chakra. He shook his head, focusing back on the task at hand.

"Kaze Suraisu!" He sent the Wind Slice forward and this time it surged forward cutting down dozens of trees. Then he got an idea.

He once again his closed his eyes, concentrating, instead of just one this time, he raised both swords. He brought them down at the same time.

"Daburu Kaze Suraisu!" Both swords sliced the air in front of him. Before he realized what was happening he was sent flying backward. He landed on his back.

"Wha-what happened?" He got back up and tried it again.

"Daburu Kaze Suraisu!" Again, he was thrown back, but this time he saw the reason. The two Wind Slices had collided and blown him away, literally.

"Alright. I get it. Maybe if I time them differently…" He raised the swords again and brought them down one right after the other.

"Daburu Kaze Suraisu!" The second Wind Slice caught up to the first one and joined it, amplifying its power. The giant Wind Slice travelled even farther than before, cutting down even more trees.

"Ya kno, you don't have to cut down ALL of the trees." A familiar voice said from behind him. He smiled as he turned around.

"Neji? What's up? Come to see how my training's going?" He beamed with pride.

"No, Naruto, although I must admit, I'm impressed. I'm here because I'm assembling a team for a mission that will require your shadow clones and almost infinite amount of chakra."

"Count me in! When do we leave?" Naruto asked, sheathing his swords, which then became one sword again.

"Same old Naruto." Neji shook his head, though he was slightly amused.

"The team I have chosen consists of You, Tenten, Lee, Sakura, Captain Yamato, and I. We leave tomorrow morning."