Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

[Takigakure Arc]

Arc Summary:
Naruto and his team are sent to Takigakure to gather information about possible sights of Uchiha Sasuke. Naruto is skeptical of the mission but accepts. When Naruto and his team arrive, the village is in distress and he comes face to face with someone was hoping not to.

Chapter 4: Training

Naruto and Hiroshi were sitting on Naruto's balcony looking up at the shimmering stars that littered the sky. Hiroshi was looking up, lost in his thoughts, still trying to get a grasp at what Naruto had told him earlier in the day. No words were spoken for a while, the just enjoyed the silence and the beauty the sky had to offer them. Hiroshi was the one to break the silence.

"The girl inside," Hiroshi began.

"Yeah, what about her?" Naruto asked.

"Is she your girlfriend or something?" Hiroshi asked. Naruto smiled brightly as ever.

"Yes she is," Naruto replied.

"I thought so, your face lit up like a christmas tree when she greeted you at the door," Hiroshi said.

Naruto blushed, 'Damn, did he really pick that up, observant Gaki!'

"It's funny though," Naruto spoke. "She never liked me at first. She was so hung up on our other teammate, who didn't care for her wellbeing at all. When he betrayed the village, it changed her I guess. I left the village to train with Ero-sennin, came back two and a half years later and we just gotten closer and closer. Then the Fourth Shinobi War so our feelings were put on the back burner. Once the war was over, we finally gave in and here we are now."

"Like you told me earlier about being alone," Hiroshi said, "At least you're not anymore."

Naruto smiled, "Yeah, you're right, I'm not."

Hiroshi then changed the subject, "I know earlier I said I wanted to get revenge when the time was right, I do want to defeat Kami but not for revenge, but to protect Konoha."

Naruto smiled, 'The will of fire has already got a hold of you,'

"Well I'm glad to hear that," Naruto said. The sliding glass door to the balcony opened up, revealing a pink-haired Kunoichi.

"You guys should get inside, it's getting late," Sakura said. "You might catch a cold for being out there so long."

Naruto and Hiroshi nodded and went inside. Hiroshi layed down on the couch. He fell alseep within no time. Sakura had already crawled into bed. Naruto took off his Shinobi gear, putting on a black tee and orange shorts. He may have worn the normal Konoha Shinobi uniform, but at home, he still wore is orange and black. He crawled into bed with the love his life.

"Naruto-kun," she began. "That was really sweet of you to let Hiroshi stay after finding out his parents were killed."

"I couldn't let him be there alone, not after all that," he replied.

Sakura reached for Naruto and kissed him, slowly, lovingly. Naruto kissed back like it was the first time.

"I love you, Naruto-kun," she said dreamingly.

"I love you too, Sakura-chan," he replied smiling. Soon the two were fast asleep as well.

Morning arrived in Konoha for another day. The Hokage Tower was busy this morning. Lots of missions coming into the village. Why the hell is it always busy in the middle of the week? Tsunade was working through her never ending supply of paper work when a knock came to her door.

"Come in," Tsunade yelled. The door opened to reveal a Chunin male wear glasses. He wore a bandana forehead protector, which hid the color and length of his hair. He worke the standed dark blue long-sleeve shirt with the red swirl on both arms. A Chunin flak jacked. The standard dark blue Shinobi pants and dark blue Shinobi sandals. He handed a note to Tsunade.

"What's this?" the Hokage asked.

"A request for help from Takigakure, Hokage-sama," the Chuunin said.

Tsunade began reading the note. It revealed that a suspicous person was around the Takigakure area and maybe responsible for deaths of a coule of Takigakure-nin. It was also revealed the suspicous person may have Sharingan.

'Sasuke...' Tsunade thought. 'No one else can take this emergancy request, I have no choice but have to give it to Naruto.'

"Shit..." Tsunade cursed.

Naruto woke up, the events of yesterday unfolding flooding through his mind. He looked down to see Sakura peacefully sleeping, nuzzled up on his chest. He smiled at the sight, something he could never get tired of. He looked over at the couch and heard snoring coming from it, Hiroshi was still asleep. Naruto needed to get up, but he didn't want to disturb his cherry blossom sleeping so soundly on top of him. To his luck she let go and turned over, allowing Naruto to get up and take a shower.

He came out of the bathroom, fully dressed in his Konoha uniform. Sakura was on the bed waiting. She smiled and got up and kissed him on the cheek and went into the bathroom herself. Naruto walked over to the couch, Hiroshi was still asleep. Not for long as his eyes opened up, seeing Naruto standing over him.

"Naruto-sensei?" he asked. "Is it time to get up?"

"Yeah it is, if you don't horry we're going to be late meeting up with Himawari and Shiro," Naruto replied.

Hiroshi quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom to get ready when Naruto stopped him.

"You'll have to wait, Sakura-chan is in there right now, should of gotten up earlier," Naruto said. Hiroshi just groaned. Naruto went into the kitchen and began making toast.

Sakura exited the bathroom, also wearing her standard Konoha uniform. Hiroshi went in. Sakura sat at the table while Naruto served her. She smiled and began eating. Shortly after Hiroshi came out of the bathroom, dressed in his ninja attire, his black Konoha tee and black Shinobi pants. His Kunai Holster and Shuriken pouch securely in place. Hiroshi sat at the table and saw what Naruto was making.

"My god, you actually eat other foods?" asked Hiroshi. Naruto couldn't help but laugh. Sakura too. Hiroshi didn't see what was so funny, he was truely surprised Naruto ate other things besides Ramen.

"So Hiroshi, how do you like being under Naruto?" asked Sakura, deciding to make small talk with the boy since she didn't really get to last night.

"He's the coolest sensei I ever had," Hiroshi said smiling. Sakura smiled.

"Oi, Sakura-san, do you live here?" Hiroshi asked. While making Hiroshi's toast, Naruto froze up to that question.

"Well, I guess you can say that, I'm practically always here," Sakura said smiling.

"How can you stay in a place so small thought?" asked Hiroshi.

"Well, it's only me and Naruto-kun here, so its fine with me," Sakura replied.

"Oi, Hiroshi, you ask too many questions," Naruto added, handing Hiroshi his breakfast. "Shut it and eat it."

"Don't be mean Naruto-kun, he's just curious," Sakura said, defending Hiroshi.

Naruto glared at Sakura, "Don't encourage him,"

The three ate breakfast quickly and exited out the door. Naruto looked it. He kissed Sakura-chan goodbye and went their seperate ways. Naruto and Hiroshi were headed to the training grounds to meet up with Himawari and Shiro. On the way, they mostly walked in silence, and as usual, Hiroshi broke that silence.

"So what are we doing today, Naruto-sensei?" he asked.

"A training exercise," replied Naruto.

"So you saying we're not doing any missions today?" asked Hiroshi, he was going to be disappointed if Naruto said yes.

"No, not today. I told Tsunade-baachan to lay off the missions for us, this training exercise is very important to your life as a ninja," Naruto responded. Hiroshi sighed.

Shortly after their talk, Naruto and Hiroshi arrived at the training grounds where Himawari and Shiro were already waiting. They were glad Naruto had finally showed up, he was fifteen minutes late.

"Good morning Himawari, Shiro," Naruto said with a smile.

"Good morning Narut-sensei," replied Himawari. Shiri nodded and noticed something, Hiroshi was walking with Naruto. Usually he was here with Himawari before him.

"So what's the plan today, Naruto-sensei?" asked Himawari.

"We're going to conduct an important training exercise," Naruto responded. "So if you're ready, we're going outside the village gate for this training exercise."

Before they could leave to begin their training a cloud of smoke appeared. Once it cleared, it revealed a muscular man in his late 30s. He had silver hair that stood straight up. His forehead protector tied aross his forehead. He had a massive scar on his left side of his face. He wore a Jounin flak jacket with a dark blue long-sleeve shirt with the red swirl on both sides of his arm. He also wore a dark blue mask that covered his face up to his nose.

"Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said, surprised to see his old sensei. "What are you doing here?"

"Tsunade-sama asked me to come get you, she has urgant business with you," the silver-haired man said.

"Tsunade-baachan?" asked Naruto, he was surprised. "I told her no missions for us today; I have to train my team chakra control."

"Don't tell that to me, tell that to Tsunade-sama," the Jounin said, he then disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Naruto sighed.

"Damn it."

Here he was, standing in front of Tsunade's. Mentally cursing her because he told her not to give his team any missions. Naruto knocked on the door a couple of times.

"Come in," Tsunade yelled on the other side of the door. Naruto opened the door, he walked in alone. He told his team to stay outside.

"What do you want Baachan?" Naruto asked, he was quite annoyed. Tsunade didn't pay any attention to him this time around.

"I'm sending you and your team to investigate a report of a suspicous person killing Shinobi from Takigakure," said Tsunade.

"What!?" Naruto yelled in protest. "I told you I didn't want my team to be given missions today so I could train them!"

"Yeah I know, but all the other teams are busy with their own missions, you're the only team left that's not busy," Tsunade answered back. Naruto knoew there was no way of getting out of this one.

"Damn it," groaned Naruto. "So what's this investigation mission?"

"There is a report of a man, who has Sharingan, snooping around Takigakure, even having killed a couple of their ninja. I want you to find out who it is and eliminate him so it doesn't cause a war between Konoha and Taki."

'What the fuck? Sharingan? Could it be Sasuke? I thought I had gotten through to him that day!' Naruto thought.

'Naruto is probably already thinking Sasuke,' Tsunade thought as she watched Naruto's facial expressions drastically change.

"Is it Sasuke?" asked Naruto.

"I don't know," Tsunade answered, "This urgent request just says he may have Sharingan."

"Why can't they just look into it on their own?" asked Naruto.

"If it does involves an Uchiha, then that's on us. We need to find out who it is and I want you to eliminate him if you can. Like I said, I don't want this starting a war between Konoha and Taki," replied Tsunade.

"So when do we leave?" asked Naruto.

"Immediately," the Hokage answered.

Naruto walked out of Tsunade's office and ordered his team to go home and supply themselves with Kunai, Shuriken and other supplies they may need. He told them to meet him at the gate ASAP. His Genin nodded and ran off to their homes. Naruto sighed.

"Takigakure, that's at least a four day trip," Naruto spoke to no one, "I don't even have time to say goodbye to Sakura-chan."

Naruto decided to go home quickly to leave a note on the table that he would be on a mission for a few days.

Naruto unlocked his apartment and went inside. He grabbed a note pad and a pen.

Sakura-chan,

I'm letting you know that I've been sent on an urgent mission to Takigakure with my team and I am leaving immediately. I wish I could of said goodbye face to face and kiss those lips of yours and tell you how much I love you but here I am writing this note for you because I'm leaving shortly. I love you very much and I'll see you in a few days.

Love,

Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto was happy with his note and left it on the table where she would easily see it. He walked out of his apartment, closed the door and locked it. He had plenty of his ninja tools and was ready to go. He jumped onto the rooftops to get to the main gate quickly.

He arrived at the gate, but he was first. He expected this, kids aren't always in a hurry like adults. But he waited. Thirty minutes passed and Hiroshi was first to arrive. Shortly after Shiro and then Himawari.

"So what are we doing?" asked Hiroshi.

"We're going on an urgent mission to Takigakure to investigate a suspicous person who has killed several Taki-nin, and it may be tied to us because there are reports of the person using Sharingan," replied Naruto.

"Sharingan?" question Himawari.

"It was a very strong Doujutsu, a Kekkei Genkai of Konoha's once great Uchiha clan," replied Naruto. "Hiroshi, remember when I told you had an ex-teammate that wanted revenge?"

Hiroshi nodded.

"That was the Uchiha clan, his brother slaughted the entire clan except him," Naruto said. "So if this man does have Sharingan, I don't want any of you getting into the fight if we cross paths with this man, understood?"

The three Genin nodded.

"Good, now lets head out," Naruto replied and the four ninja left Konoha.

Naruto and his Genin walked down the path leading out of the Konoha forest, heading northwest toward the border. Naruto decided they had done enough traveling for one day and decided he was going to train them today.

"Why'd we stop Naruto-sensei?" asked Shiro.

"We've traveled enough for today. I thought we'd get started on that training exercises that I wanted to do earlier today," replied Naruto.

"But we're on a mission, Naruto-sensei," Himawari added.

"The mission can wait; it's just investigation. Besides, if we end up in a fight, I'll be the one fighting," said Naruto.

"What is this exercise then?" asked Hiroshi. He had been awfully quiet since they had left Konoha. It was the first time he spoke since they had left hours ago.

"It will be a chakra control exercise," Naruto said. He then pointed to three trees behind the kids. "I want you to climb those trees."

The three Genin turned around and looked at the tall trees Naruto was pointing at. They turned back to their sensei and began laughing.

"Are you kidding me?" Hiroshi questioned, "That's easy."

Naruto just grinned at the naivity.

"I want you to climb those trees, without using your hands," Naruto said.

"What!?" the three Genin yelled in unison.

"It's simple; focus your chakra to the center point of your feet," Naruto explained. The three Genin groaned. It wasn't going to be as easy as they originally thought. Naruto grinned, oh how he loved destroying their cocky attitudes in just seconds.

Naruto then threw three kunai into the ground, one for each Genin. "And one more thing, use these Kunai to mark your progress. That way you can try to beat that."

The three Genin grabbed the kunai that Naruto threw for them and each picked a tree they were going to climb up. They stood in silence and focused their chakra to their feet and they charged at the trees and began climbing up. A few steps in, Hiroshi fell off. Himawari made it a little further but Shiro made it all the way to the first branch.

Naruto grinned and he decided to give them some words of wisdom, "Here's a hint: If you put too much chakra into your feet, you'll push too hard on the bark and it will crack and you will fall. If you don't use enough chakra, you'll just fall off without getting up the tree very far."

Hiroshi and Himawari cleared their minds of any and all thought and concentrated on their chakra flow. Shortly after Hiroshi and Himawari were back at it running up the tree, both going further than their previous mark. Shiro was trying to get further past that first branch he initially passed the first time, but from that point on Shiro started to struggle.

'Hmm, it looks like Hiroshi and Himawari are getting better at their chakra control already, Shiro was doing fine but all of a sudden he's struggling,' Naruto thought as he sad in a nearby tree, observing his students.

"Good job Hiroshi and Himawari, keep practicing and you'll surely master this exercise in no time," Naruto cheered.

An hour past as Naruto continued to watch his students climb their respective tree. Hiroshi and Himawari got pretty high in their tree, but now, they're were running low on chakra. Naruto thought it was time to intervene.

"Alright, Hiroshi and Himawari, you two an rest now. I don't need you guys to use up all your chakra now," Naruto said. Naruto then glanced over at Shiro, he finally made some progress from where he first started but he could tell Shiro was getting frustrated. However, Shiro didn't make a fuss, he calmly walked over to Hiroshi and Himawari.

"Hey, uh, you two seemed to be better at this, how is this done?" he asked.

Naruto grinned, 'Finally, I was wondering when he'd ask his teammates for help.'

After resting, Naruto stopped the training and said they'd pick it up another day. They began traveling again, heading toward Takigakure. As evening set in, Naruto decided it was time to stop and set up camp for the night. Naruto set up a campfire while the Genin went out looking for wood. After they had collected wood and began a fire, night had fallen on the forest as crickets were singing. The four ninja sat down around the campfire.

"Well today was a great accomplishment, you all nearly mastered that chakra control exercise," Naruto said happily, "Well, at least one of them anyway."

The three Genin groaned while Naruto laughed at their reaction, "Don't worry, we'll do that one another day."

The kids sighed in relief, they did not want to try and master another chakra control exercises. This one was exhausting, at least at their level.

"You three should get some sleep," Naruto spoke. "You all need the rest. Tomorrow we're going to pick up the pace and make it to Takigakure in record time."

The three Genin slipped into their sleeping bags and fell asleep in a matter of minutes. Naruto then climbed up a nearby tree to keep watch over the young ninja.

Next Up: Chapter 5: In Distress