A/N: References Episode 86. I do not own Naruto-chan, nor his friends, rivals, enemies or teachers. Alas, when chasing them I only end up with shadow clones and/or logs to show for it…

The Gift

Naruto had almost forgotten about the gift. It seemed so long ago, between finding the fifth Hokage, learning a new technique, and then the awful fight between the Sannin... Naruto sighed and brought his mind to the trouble literally at hand. During his journey ithad been squished down below his other belongings and into a misshapen lump in his travel bag, andhe had only noticed it once he was finally able to go home and start unpacking.

Pulling it out, Naruto frowned in consideration. Yes, the perverted old man had told him not to, but what did he know? If Naruto had learned anything about survival, it was certainly 'waste not, want not.'

Naruto grinned. "That's it! I'll try it out in training today!"


Kakashi and Gai met together that afternoonat the usual place. They were tied once again at 152 wins.

"Kakashi-sensei!" The jounin looked about, his lips bearing an unseen smile for his errant student...

And saw a flash of green and blond.

Kakashi's single exposed eye closed in horror.

Gai laughed. "And yet another point for my youthful spirit!"