Fan Fiction Name: The Gathering Storm

Chapter Name: New Orders

Info: After given orders to find possible ninja spies from the Hidden Cloud Village, Naruto and the rest of Team Seven are pulled into a world of intrigue and revolution as war is declared and a new village is founded.

Disclaimers: Narutoand the rest of the known characters are not my creations The rest, OC's all, are mine (or, rather, mine and my sisters, who came up with the blind one. You'll see what I mean.) All mine! Hahahahahahahahacoughsputterwheeze Give me a second…

Chapter One: New Orders

The hot summer days of the Village Hidden in the Leaves (or Konohagakure, for those who were familiar with the Old Language) often wilt the hardiest of plants and the most resilient of workers. Some move their business inside while others cover themselves in light colors in order to stave off the heat. It was a day that made the Fire Nation lives up to its scorching name. Yet today was a day that would not dampen the spirits of one orange clad-blonde, regardless of the amount of sweat was now soaking into his brightly colored jumpsuit.

Well, maybe just a little.

"Why is it so damn HOT?" Uzumaki Naruto yelled loudly, as if questioning the suns intentions of that day. His face, normally clad in a big grin, showed his misery at the excessive heat and sweltering humidity. He was finding refuge under the cooling shade of his favorite ramen stand, Ichiraku Ramen. He was there with his former teacher and current father figure, one Umino Iruka.

"It's summer, Naruto. You should expect it to be hot," Iruka said as he happily slurped his ramen. Naruto just groaned again and began slurping his own bowl (or rather, his fifth) as he dejectedly looked around again. It had been a boring couple of days since Tsunade had taken the mantle of Hokage. Hell, he had been lying in his own damn bed for days now, recovering from his fight with Kabuto ever since he came back (Hokages orders his ass! Tsunade-obachan was the best medic-nin in all of Konoha!). Now that he was out, the weather decided to be uncooperative and miserable.

There went any sort of fun that he had planned.

Damn it! Why was this place the Fire Nation? Why wasn't it the "Nice and Cool during summer" nation instead? Wasn't there some sort of mission that Tsunade-obachan that she could give him to get him out of here?

Wasn't there anything that Kakashi-sensei could do that could alleviate this boredom?

A hand on Narutos shoulder shakes him out of his thoughts. As he turned to face the interloper on his thoughts (and ramen eating), his thoughts screech to a halt when he saw Kakashi-sensei. It was almost as if he had used a Kuchiyose no Jutsu to summon some fun. Naruto smiled happily, his grin stretching from one ear to another.

"Don't smile like that. You look idiotic," Kakashi said in his normal bored drawl. Naruto scowled back at the comment, before Kakashi cleared his throat and continued. "Tomorrow we're going on a mission. Meet you all at the Hokage Tower at seven o'clock." With that, Kakashi disappeared in a flash of smoke. Iruka gave Naruto a questioning look. Naruto just flashed a smile, and hollered for another bowl of ramen. Iruka just shook his head. Sometimes Naruto was so much like his old self it was scary. It was like the way he was with Kouta-sensei all those years ago, when Iruka was a genin.

- - - - -

Seven o'clock was nearly unreasonable for someone like Naruto, who wasn't near what you would call a morning person. He had gotten up just fifteen minutes before he had to meet Kakashi-sensei, and in a rush he had accidentally spoiled toothpaste on his jacket, tripped over something in his apartment, and had ran to the Hokage Tower at full sprint, running into and hitting numerous people along the way as he managed to make it to the Tower in time. Once he got there he saw that the Uchiha prodigy (sometimes, Naruto was convinced the definition for "prodigy" was "pain in the ass") and the ever pretty Haruno Sakura (who was amiably chatting and hanging off of the said prodigy) were already there. One piece of this puzzle was missing.

Kakashi-sensei was not there yet.

Silently fuming at the ever tardy jounin, particularly for getting his ass up at such an unreasonable time, Naruto found a place to sit at the base of the wall, opposite Sasuke-teme. But now Naruto was silently kicking himself for believing Kakashi-sensei. Why the hell did he have to be so gullible at times? Here he was, nodding off on the wall at seven o'clock in the morning, when Kakashi-sensei was most likely sleeping his lazy ass in a nice warm bed…with a comfortable pillow…and…

Naruto nodded off again, but before long someone was shaking him awake. He opened a bleary eye to see Kakashi-sensei there in front of him. What caught Narutos attention more then his tardy sensei was Sasuke-teme and the fact that he was scowling right at Naruto. Naruto glared back, but then Naruto was knocked out of it by Kakashi.

"Come on. We have a mission."

The chunin waved them through to the main missions' room, where Tsunade stood. Naruto instantly lit up at seeing the newest Hokage. Tsunade smiled back. It was definitely a happy moment if Naruto ever knew one. So, it was only a matter of time, in true Naruto fashion, that he would somehow kill it. Tsunade knew this, and she silently counted down the seconds to that exact moment.

"What's our important mission, Tsunade-obachan?"

There it is. Tsunade knew she would have won SO much money from Jiraiya if she had bet him right then. Tsunades brow began twitching madly, and before the Hokage could angrily break her desk over Narutos head, Kakashi forcibly pushed them into the office and had them sit down at the seats given.

"So, what is the mission?" Kakashi said, clearing his voice to draw the attention away from Narutos loud stupidity. After a few seconds (all of which were marked by the creaking and groaning of wood, most likely the desk under the grip of Tsunade), Tsunade follows suite and clears her own.

"Now, I have been told by some of our scouts that there is a small group of shinobi who have yet to be identified seen near our borders to the north. The group saw them engaging a small band of sound Nin, and they used many jutsu known to Kumogakure. It is possible that they are a scout group from Kumogakure to test our defenses. However, they display the skill of genin, so it is considered a C-class mission. Now..."

At that moment, Naruto let out a loud whoop in happiness (ignoring the glares he received from Sasuke and Sakura) at such a mission. Not only would he be able to get out of the town, but he also would be facing up against easy genins this time around! No more having to worry about anyone like Kiba or Neji! Tsunades twitching eyes return, but she manages to keep her composure and continues.

"…ANYWAYS…like I told you this will be considered a C-class mission. However, it is important that you simply watch them. You are to keep tabs on them at all times, but avoid combat. This is reconnaissance."

"Uh…" Naruto said with his confusion obvious, "Tsunade-obachan, what does that mean?"

Tsunade looks at him almost incredulously, then to Kakashi.

"That big word you used. What does it mean?"

Tsunade could only shake her head at the blonde fool in front of her. Only he would have enough gaul to ask a question like that in the middle of a mission briefing.

"It means we watch them, IDIOT!" Sakura yelled as she swung her fist into the back of his head. After the contact (which made even Kakashi flinch) Naruto moaned aloud as the lump where she had hit grew bigger and bigger. Naruto gave Sakura a pained look for the hit and sat down, the whole time grumbling.

"Now, I want to make it clear: this is reconnaissance. Do not engage the team unless you are attacked first. Is that understood?" Tsunade asked.

Sakura nodded. Sasuke didn't say anything. Naruto groaned as he rubbed his head.

'I guess that's the best I can get out of them for now,' thought Tsunade as she unconsciously rubbed her head. Tsunade nodded to Kakashi, who then ushered the team (with varying amounts of annoyance) out of the room. As soon as they were gone (and before Shizune could make an appearance, Tsunade reached under her desk and pulled out a bottle, with a label clearly (and loudly) labeled "sake."

- - - - -

In his excitement to be leaving Konoha on a mission, Naruto again forgot the first rule of Kakashi-sensei: when Kakashi-sensei says to meet at nine o'clock in the morning, he's going to show up at noon. So here he was, with Sasuke-teme and Sakura-chan, just waiting at the gate. Sakura was stealing (or rather, trying to steal) glances from Sasuke, who was content at staring at the gates in front of him, his hand idly going to the mark on his shoulder. Naruto was certainly steamed at the turn of events (not to mention the fact that Sakura-chan decided to ignore Naruto), and when the idiot sensei of his finally made an appearance Naruto was sure to give him a piece of his mind.

Low and behold, at noon, Kakashi made his appearance, his bright orange book in hand and walking at a leisurely pace. Naruto started to fume and opened his mouth to yell at the silver haired shinobi when Kakashi held a hand up, silencing Naruto before he could say anything. Kakashis face, once up from the orange book, was more serious then normal. Naruto waited for the worst...and was rewarded by one of Kakashis eye smiles.

"Sorry about that. I have a grandma in the hospital," Kakashi said, oblivious to the glares he was getting from Sakura and Naruto.

"You lying jackass!" Naruto yelled at the jounin, who responded by turning the page on his book. Naruto began steaming, but again Kakashi again raised his hand again, stopping Naruto again.

"Shouldn't we get going?" Kakashi said as he motioned to the large gates just in front of him. Naruto grinned happily at the sight, knowing that whatever that was going to be on the other side of the gate was going to be fun; this was going to be an adventure.

"Alright! Let's get going!" Naruto proudly declared as he began walking towards the gate, leading the way to the beginning of something new.

END

A/N: Now, the newest story in my whole "Tales" universe (the same place that Tales of a Would-Be Jounin, Requiem for the Rokudaime, and Legends of the Past. It has explanations for many things that had been alluded to in the two future fics (RftR and LotP) and will tie in to Tales of a Would be Jounin. Among the things found…err…wait, what am I saying! I was going to give it away! Why?

Jeez, I should know better by now! Any who, I hope you'll enjoy it!