Chapter 1: The Briefing.

It had been a long day indeed, no different from the rest though, Green grass under a blazing sun. Underneath this golden orb two boys were panting.

"Alright Lee, that's enough for today, I'm exhausted" Stated the loud blonde boy, His long headband straps flailing in the breeze.

"Is that all you have in you today Naruto?" His snug green outfit covered in sweat and dirt. "That is fine. I was ready to meet up with Guy sensei myself." He said, enunciating every syllable as always.

"That's one strong back kick you've got Lee."

"Thank you Naruto" Responded Lee. It was not often Naruto complimented others.

The sun was beginning to set and after an arduous day the two boys had had enough of each other. Tenten had been there earlier but simply could not handle both of their boisterous and loud personas simultaneously. As Naruto and Rock Lee sauntered across the sun bleached training field a lone shinobi strafed into their path.

"Naruto Uzumaki… and Rock Lee…" stated the leaf ninja plainly.

The two young ninja nodded their heads in agreement.

The leaf ninja continued "your presence is requested at Lady Tsunade's office, please make haste."

"A mission maybe? For us?" Lee and Naruto's eyes lit up in unison. It had been several weeks since Naruto returned from his two year hiatus training with Jiraiya and the initial excitement of being back had faded out.

"We must go! The power of youth guides us!" exclaimed Lee with a twinkle in his eye.

With all of their vigor the two boys dashed to Tsunade's office. Naruto slapped the red double doors open and sauntered into the quiet office where several of his fellow shinobi were already standing around.

"Hey guys long time no see!" shouted Naruto while he ruffled his hair with his hands.

The other ninja warmly greeted Naruto and Lee with smiles, or smirks in Shikamaru's case. A quiet girl with long black hair turned her head in disbelief at the sound of Naruto's voice. Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, causing her to blush a deep pink, her soft lips tightening. Tenten giggled when she saw this. Naruto saw her too, she like everyone else, looked different than before his time with Jiraiya, but she was like a new person to him. Her features were all the more womanly to him. Her hips curved out from her waist and led down to her soft toned legs. She had longer hair and her now large breasts complimented everything about her figure. Many of the girls in Konoha were jealous of her new body and many boys and men alike stared whenever she passed. Her eyes were like the rest of the Hyuugas, soft pools of lavender.

"Hinata is that you?" inquired Naruto, intrigued by the seemingly new woman standing across from him.

"Na…Na…Naruto…?" This time her whole face turned a dark red, she almost passed out from excitement, her heart racing. She had been waiting and hoping for this day to come. She thought about him all day every day for the past two years.

Tsunade broke the awkward silence that followed.

"Let's see here… Shikamaru Nara, Tenten, Rock Lee, Naruto Uzumaki, and Hinata Hyuuga. Alright, now that everyone is here, let us begin. I have handpicked all of you based on your specific set of skills needed to execute the mission I am about to give to you."

A mission? About time! Naruto was excited for whatever was in store for him. Anything had to be better than the monotony he was currently facing. Tsunade continued, clearing her voice.

"Over the last few months an excavation of ancient ruins to the north of the land of fire has been progressing as expected until the archaeologists recently made a remarkable discovery of several archaic scrolls suspected to be extremely powerful. This discovery was supposed to be a kept a secret until one of the laborers doing the dirty work, was bribed by a group of bandits to tell them what he found. I'm sending you lot because these aren't your average brigands. These are trained highwaymen probably hired as mercenaries by god knows who."

A secret mission? How exciting thought all the young shinobi, except for Shikamaru as they turned their gaze back to Tsunade for her to continue.

"Just when I was getting to relax… what a drag…" mumbled Shikamaru. Tsunade's only reply was a brief glare in his direction. Tsunade's stares could make mountains tremble, and the collected Shikamaru didn't even bat an eyelash.

Tsunade smirked. "Well Shikamaru you're gonna just love being team leader for this operation won't you.

"Great" responded Shikamaru with

"I will hand you each mission folders with more details inside but in short you will go north to the location on the map in the folder and guard the final steps of the excavation. After that you will guard a convoy transporting the artifacts the convoy you reach a train bound for our village and you will ride it all the way home. Any questions?"

Tenten raised her hand and Tsunade glanced over to her and acknowledged her question.

"Tsunade-Sama, what details do we have about these bandits?"

Tsunade shuffled through a stack of papers until she found the one she was looking for.

"It is believed that there are quite a few of them, and they have been watching the site for quite some time planning something big. We think they are at least comparable to high level genin and inexperienced chunin, not too different from all of you. So watch your backs out there. I don't want to go to a funeral this weekend. Alright if that's all then you all are dismissed, meet at the gates of the village at nine am sharp tomorrow."

The young ninja began to talk amongst themselves as they together exited the Hokage's office. Tenten smiled at Hinata who was also smiling, her love had returned and she got to go on a mission with him. It was perfect.

Tenten approached Hinata as they were walking down the hallway.

"You should say hi to Naruto" she whispered with an encouraging smile.

"Maybe" Hinata's soft voice spoke, her cheeks still red.

"I bet he'll be glad to see you again" Tenten added.

It never ceases to amaze me that Naruto has never given any thought to why Hinata is so softspoken and nervous around him pondered Tenten.

"See you tomorrow guys!" Shouted Naruto to Shikamaru and Lee as they exited the building and parted ways for the evening.

Tenten gave Hinata a push towards Naruto since he was now alone.

Hinata let out a squeal as she approached Naruto, almost tripping over her own dainty feet.

"N…Naruto…"

"Oh hey there Hinata! Long time no see!" exclaimed Naruto with his trademark grin across his face. "You look… different Hinata. The new you looks great!"

"Th…Thank you Naruto" Hinata replied softly, once again blushing looked down at her feet and fidgeting her index fingers as always. But on the inside she was ecstatic.

He noticed me! Thought Hinata, her heart lifting up to high heaven.

It sank as soon as she realized what her father Hiashi would think about her going into the woods with that Uzumaki trash. But she remembered that father wanted her to have more experience in the field and this mission was a great way to do it.

This whole time Tenten was standing back smirking. "Never fancied myself a matchmaker but this will do just fine" she whispered to herself. The sight of them walking together boded perfectly to Tenten, and it sure as hell did for Hinata. Naruto probably didn't think it odd, after all he had most of his life not noticing Hinata's love for him.

"So Hinata are you ready for tomorrow?" Naruto asked, excited for the mission ahead of him.

"I guess so" She would have liked to say how happy she was to be with him for several days but she didn't have it in her. She never did and it made her sad. Hinata was always a modest, shy, and reserved person but she always froze up around Naruto.

"What have you been up to lately Hinata?" Naruto inquired.

Hinata had spent all her time daydreaming about Naruto and hoping for his return. "Well… you see…" her cute little voice made Naruto smile a little bit. " My father has been making me… train with Neji almost every day."

"Sounds interesting, I would love to spar with Neji again" returned Naruto.

"Actually… it's very hard and Neji is… tough with me. She stuttered, we… we are of different branches of the clan." Hinata sighed. Naruto if only you knew she thought while staring at her feet. She could not bear to look at him in the eyes, for she would get lost in them.

"Well Hinata I gotta get home and pack my things! See you later!" The blonde boy said, shouting as always.

"Bye Naruto" replied Hinata with the voice of a mouse, her cheeks turning pink.

The two young ninja parted ways. Tenten approached Hinata and gave her a pat on the back.

"He noticed you huh?" The bun-headed kunoichi asked rhetorically.

"Yes…" Hinata said smiling with her soft lips "Yes!" Tentens eyes opened wide for it wasn't often that Hinata spoke up.

When Naruto arrived home he lied down on his couch and closed his eyes, Hinata was different and he liked it, but his heart still belonged to Sakura and plus, or at least he thought, that Hinata was too shy for a loud boisterous guy like himself. He was still tired from training with Lee so he needed to get as much rest as tomorrow for the coming days.

Hinata arrived home, sad that Naruto had to go so soon but she was excited for tomorrow and the days that followed. Naruto was better in every way, Hinata loved it! She hummed happily while she got her things together tomorrow as did the rest of the shinobi. Everyone seemed nervous and suspense was in the air.

AUTHORS WARNING: NOTE THE NEXT CHAPTER IS LEMON-ESQUE. THOUGH NOT A FULL OUT LEMON IT CONTAINS STRONG SEXUAL THEMES NONETHELESS. THANK YOU FOR READING THIS NOTE.