Dissclaimer-I do not own Naruto or any of the characters from the manga.
It was a sunny morning in the Hidden Village of the Leaf. The newly awakened center of town was bustling with early shoppers, anxious to get their goods before the crowds began. Naruto and Hinata were among those getting their errands done before others came. Today was going to be a special day for these two and a few of Konoha's other Jounin. In a few hours, members from the various Jounin teams would be named Chunnin and everyone was exicited to find out who the new shinobi would be.
"Who do you think is going to make it from your team?" asked Hinata. Times had changed and she was well passed her nervous state when ever she was around Naruto. The fact that these two were a couple was attributed to that.
"For sure it's gotta be Hyjia. That guy has made so much progress in this last year and did you see him at the chunnin prelimenaries?" returned Naruto with a question of his own. Hinata looked up as she thought to herself. She remembered a few months ago when she and her team at the time, were in the Hidden Village of the Cloud. Hyjia was one of the rescuers of their group. It seemed to her that he was already on Chunnin level.
"Yeah, I saw him." said Hinata.
The two finished up their errands and went back to Naruto's place to put things up until the Chunnin appointement was over. Hinata didn't have time to rush back over to the Hyugga compound before having to be at the Hokage's tower so, Naruto's place would be fine. If Neiji or Hiashi Hyugga found out that she was spending so much excess time with her new boyfriend, the world might turn upside down for Konoha's future Hokage.
"I think your Tashi has a pretty good chance too. His fire jutsu's are on a good level and ever since he's been putting in lessons with Gemma, his fire style is just as good as Saskue's was when he was his age." said Naruto as he closed the door to his apartment and locked the door. He smiled at Hinata and she returned it. Walking close, the two headed toward the Hokage tower.
In the Hokage's office, Most of all the Jounin and their Genin were assembled. No one seemed at all surprised when Naruto and Hinata walked in the office together, them being a couple was already general news.
"Yo." said Kakashi when Naruto and Hinata made it to the middle of the room. "Glad to see you made it. I thought that maybe you and Hinata here would be"
"Shut the hell up Kakashi-sensei!! That's private and your in no position to..., oh, hey Neiji!" said Naruto akwardly as Neiji walked over to see what was going on. The Hyugga elite jounin had just a taciturn look as ever and didn't looked to thrill to be in the room.
"What is it that you were going to say, Kakashi-sensei?" asked the Jounin.
Kalashi's face went into an akward shape as he put his hands up to pacify the situation. "Oh nothing at all. Hows things over at the Hyugga place?" said Kakashi, trying to change the subject. Neiji wasn't falling for it but, allowed himself to be walked away by his commander so that Naruto and Hinata could be alone.
"That fool! He's gonna get himself killed one day!" exclaimed Naruto.
"I agree. Neiji would see to it that my father found out if anything odd was going on between you and I. Oh look, Lord Hokage is coming." said Hinata.
Sure enough, Tsunande was entering the romm with Shizune and Anko in tow. The Hokage sat down behind her desk as all the Jounins and a few Chunnins in the room, lined up on the wall behind her. Another door opened in the bacl of the room and all of the genin candidates walked into the room. After all the candidates were in, Raidou walked in from the same door and closed it behind him.
"Now. All of you are here in anticipation of recieving an appointment to become Chunnin. Not all of you will make it though you might feel that you have attained that level. When I call your group number, come and stand infront of my desk. First team to be called is, Team 2. Jounin instructor Neiji Hyugga"
The entire tesam approached the desk and stood before the Hokage. There was a slight smile on Neijis' face. He was proud of his ability to get the best from his students.
"Team 2. Based on your mission reccord and your team and individual performance in the Chunnin exam, I hearby bestow upon the entire team, rank of Chunnin." finished Hokage. Some jounin in the room looked at one another but didn't speak. It was rare that an entire team would be promoted to Chunnin at the same time. Naruto shot a glance over at Neiji who's eyes were closed, trying to hid his joy.
The process went on for some time, genins from other villages being called and some from Konoha as well. Finally, it was time for Naruto's team to be called. Naruto knew that not all of the genins from his group would be called but, at least the one who mattered.
"Team 10, jounin instructor Uzamaki Naruto, please approach the desk."
What? Wait a second. Did she just say, team 10? This couldn't be! Naruto was sure that only one at best two memebers from his team would be chosen to be Chunnin but it looked as if the entire team would be named.
"For your performance at the Chunnin exam and your impeccable record. I bestow upon all the members of Team 10 the status of Chunnin"
Hyjia looked at all of his teamates and smiled. He was proud and very happy that all of them were able to become Chunnins. He shot a glance over at his commander and smiled. Naruto winked back at him. Hinata had two of her genins to become Chunnin; Tashi and Komai. After the meeting was dismissed, all the teams went down into town to celebrate but, the sudden arrival of three ANBU members and Jiryia, kept Naruto and his team from leaving the Hokage's office with the others.
"Jiryia-sama! What are you doing here?" asked Anko.
The ANBU memeber's bowed slightly to the Hokage and then took up postions behind the Frog Hermit. Naruot stepped up to his teacher and smiled. Jiryia smiled shortly and then became very serious. Something was definately up.
"I have news on the formation on the Water country's army. They have massed a huge force on the outskirts of our border and are heading this way." said the Sannin with a slight rush. Now that eeryone was settled, it looked as if he was out of breathe, though he ws unscathed.
"Now, they dare attack the Fire country now!?" yelled Tsunande. Shizune patted her master on her back and went to stand by the window. The sky was blue and very bright and it seemed almost impossible that something like this could ruin the day. Still, something had to be done about it.
"So, what do we need to do?" asked Raidou stepping into the conversation. There were only few Jounins left in the room, Gemma, Raidou, Shizune, and Naruto. They were all preparred to leave immediately if the Hokage needed them to.
"First off, we need to get more scouts to track the Water Country's forces. Gemma, Raidou, take your team and head towards our borders. Shizune, instruct all the ANBU to put the village under high guard, I don't want any surprises. Naruto, Anko." The two Jounins stepped forward when they were called. The other Jounins that the Hokage named had already left for their missions.
"Naruto, Anko. I want you to take teams to the border in a few days to back up the scouts. If there is need, do what you can to stall the enemy forces until we can get the Fire Country's own military formed. Take any team or form any team you want but, no more than six nin's. Dismissed!" The room emptied with the command and when it was so, Tsunande colapsed in her chair. "Damn, is it always gonna be like this?" she asked herself.
Down in the village, there were numerous celebrations going on so, it took Naruto some time before he found Hinata and her team at an all you can eat restaurant. When the two locked eyes, they smiled brightly.
"Listen Hin, can I talk to you for a second, alone?" asked Naruto. Of course, there was no way that Hinata could deny this man anything that she was able to give him. That smoothe skin with a jaw bone that can cut butter. If only her father.
"What is it? What did the Hokage say"
"I have to go on a mission in a few day's and I'm not sure how long I will be gone. The Hokage told me that I can take any team or form any team that I wanted to. I was thinking about asking you but, I don't want anything to happen to you. If you got hurt"
"So you are going to take Sakura? How is it that she can be close to you and not me.?" Some shinobi and other people in the restaurant began to look at the couple when Hinata's facial expression changed. If Naruto wasn't careful, he would come out of this conversation the bad guy.
"I need a strong medical nin in my team. Shizune will be heading out to catch up with Gemma and Raidou later and Ino is away on another mission. There aren't any other medical nin's with the mission experience besides ANBU and I don't think I can take any of them. Please don't be like this with me." pleaded the future leaf leader. Hinata lowered her head and took a deep breathe. When she looked up, there was a smile on her face.
"I won't and I know you don't want anything to happen to me. Who will you take with you besides Sakura"
"Anko is already assigned to this mission. Neiji, Hyjia and your Tashi, if you will let me." smiled Naruto.
"Tashi and Hyjia? Why those two? They have only have just become Chunnin"
"I know but, this will be great experience for them and I will need another wind user on this trip. Tashi's fire style is a nice compliment to Anko's special Jutsu's. Kakashi-sensei is unavailabe so, they will have to do." said Naruto. He kissed his girlfriend on the cheek and walked away. Hinata watched him leave and then called her number one student over to her.
"Tashi, I have a mission for you"
Later on that day, Naruto ran into Neiji and explained everything to him.
"Well, since Orochimaru is gone, the Ki squad wont be needed often. Who else will be going with us?" asked the Hyugga Jounin. Naruto told him and Neiji nodded. "I will be ready when the time comes." said Nieji as he walked off toward the Hyugga compound. Naruto smiled after his friend. As taciturn as ever but, as dependable as you will find.
Two days passed and Naruto's team was assembled infront of the village. Anko, Nieji, Naruto, Sakura and the two chunnins, Hyjia and Tashi. It was a hot day and everyone was anxious to move into the forest to get some shade but, Anko had a few things to say before that happened.
"Listen up team. As the jounin with the most mission experience, I will be in command. This mission will be very dangerous so, I hope everyone watches their backs. We are going to meet up with Gemma and the others in his team and find out what information they have. Also, if at all possible, slow the forces of the enemy down until our country's own forces can be assembled. Any questions?" asked the special Jounin.
The two newly crowned Chunnins looked at one another nervously. It would be okay for Hyjia, at least his instructor was on this mission but Tashi had no one. The only person that he could really talk to was Neiji, having seen him many times due to his closeness of Hinata-sensei. Naruto notices their nervousness and assured them that they had nothing to worry about, as long as they followed orders, they would not die. Hyjia let out a slight sigh of relief and with that, the six Leaf Shinobi leapt into the forest, unknowing what awaited them.