AN: What am I doing? I am HURTING HINATA-CHAN! I feel so… evil… Sooooooooo… I apologize before hand for all the hurt I have and might cause Hinata in this fic. I liked this chapter a lot, so enjoy! Not hurting Hinata in this one!
Chapter 3: Crime and Reward
Hinata Hyuga was almost asleep when a shadowy figure appeared outside her window. It had been a big day, and she needed her rest for the next day when she would be given a genin team. The sun was almost gone when she heard a small knock on the window before it slowly swung open, nearly silent, but not quiet enough to get past Hinata's hearing. She slid her out of sight hand under her pillow and clasped the kunai she hid there in case of… enemies. She felt, more then anything, the footsteps of the intruder. She was about to swing her arm in an attempt to attack the unknown person when she heard a familiar voice.
"Pst! Hinata, are you awake?"
"Naruto-kun?" She sat up in bed and faced the boy she had come to appreciate as more then a brother… almost as a… crush… Suddenly she remembered two things. One was the kunai in her hand. Two was the fact that she was wearing pajamas in front of Naruto, something she had never done ever since she had come to… appreciate him more. She blushed and felt slightly dizzy as she covered up her already mostly covered body. Her clothes covered the same amount of skin as her regular clothes, just without the jacket she wore all the time. Naruto was oblivious to both actions.
"Yeah, it's me. Guess what? Mizuki-sensei told me another way to get genin!"
"N…n…nani?" Hinata wasn't aware of any other way other then passing the test. She leaned forward to hear what Naruto had to say, but in the process head butted Naruto. "G…gomen, Naruto-kun."
"No… my fault… here…" She felt his hand on her head and instants later she was able to see herself. Do I really look like that without my eye cover? Hinata noticed that she looked like a very normal girl… just with her eyes closed. She knew she could probably open them, but didn't want Naruto, let alone herself, to see the empty sockets. I thought they were disfigured… or something…
"Ok, so do you want to come with me?"
"W…where?"
"Well, he told me that if I learn one technique from this scroll here and show it to Iruka-sensei then I will get to be a genin! So do you want to come too and learn a technique?"
Hinata was not sure about it in the least. If otou-san caught her and Naruto out of the house at this hour there would be many early training sessions to come. But… going anywhere with Naruto made her sort of happy inside in a way she didn't understand. "H…hai." Naruto reached for her hand and then they both jumped out the window, Hinata not noticing that she was still in her pajamas.
The Third Hokage opened his office door and stepped into the dreaded area of paperwork. He sighed. He had almost been home when he had remembered that he needed his house key if he wanted to sleep in a bed. The house key he had left in his desk. He walked over to the desk and opened the top drawer. He pull out the key and was about to leave when he saw something that should not have been. The room that contained the village scrolls… was open… Sarutobi knew that no one had opened the room in a week, so why was it open now? He stepped inside and searched for an irregularity. Nothing down one isle or the next. It was only in the third that he saw the empty space… the empty space that that should have held one of the most dangerous scrolls in the village. The one containing jutsus that had been deemed either too powerful to use for the sake of the user, or too dangerous should another village figure out how to use it. It contained personal jutsus from the first four Hokage's and various other jutsus that were jonin level or higher. Uh…oh… The Third immediately ran back to his desk and pressed the button calling his own elite ANBU guard. They immediately appeared next to him.
"Tell me, was anyone here between ten and twenty minutes ago?"
"Hokage-sama, you were here no less then fifteen minutes ago."
"That was not me! Gather up the clan heads, and bring me Iruka!"
"Why Iruka?"
"Because… I have a good idea who did this…" Sarutobi looked back at the missing slot for the forbidden scroll. Where a label normally would have been, a very recognizable swirl was inked over it.
"Hinata! Check this out! It's a clone jutsu, but different! It creates clones that are actually substance, not just illusion! I am going to learn this one. It looks like I can make more then four or five too…"
Naruto was totally engulfed in studying how to do the jutsu. Hinata, on the other hand, saw the small note at the bottom of the entry. It read, "Do not attempt this jutsu with a small chakra pool, it could cause severe chakra depletion and death."
"Naruto-kun… what does that say?"
"It says that it takes a large chakra pool, or it won't work. Good thing I have one!"
"Hai… N…Naruto-kun… but… I don't…"
"Oh! Right! Alright. Hm… I'll flip to one you can use once I get this one down!"
Hinata knew that Naruto had ten times the chakra she had, so he would be ok. The reality of it was that she could barely make five bunshins without them having any physical abilities. Creating one "real" one would be dangerous for her. She was concentrating on the jutsu below the one Naruto was looking at. Hiraishin no jutsu? Flying Thunder God Jutsu? Good thing I brought a pad of paper… Hinata began writing down what looked like important formulas and basically copying everything she saw onto her paper. She might be blind and can't write to save her life, but she could copy very well. She had barely finished writing it all down, at least as far on the scroll as she could see, when Naruto jumped up and began to practice.
"Alright, let's try this. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto focused his chakra and made the cross shaped hand sign required and a clone appeared next to him. It looked tired. Hinata looked through Naruto's eyes at the clone that just yawned and then dispersed.
"N…Naruto-kun…"
"Yeah?"
"I… think… that you need more chakra put in… a lot more…"
"Hm… you're probably right. Ok, here we go again. Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" This time Naruto was able to create two completely fine clones.
"I did it!" All three Narutos jumped into the air. Hinata smiled. Naruto came back to the scroll and started looking through it for a jutsu that would fit Hinata. She had learned the basics of juken, but wasn't very good at it due to a lack of sight and the byakugan. She wasn't bad using genjutsu, or ninjutsu, for that matter. Naruto figured it would be best to try to find a jutsu that was fast, like Hinata, so that when he figured out how to let her see again she would be able to hit people with a fast, powerful jutsu.
"Hmm… Hinata?"
"Y..yeah?"
"Do you like water jutsu?"
"H…hai."
"Well, here is a jutsu that is a water style. It sounds very cool. It's called a Geyser Jutsu."
"H…how do I… do it?"
"Well, let's see…"
Iruka was flying off to search his designated area of the city for his student. What the hell has gotten into you, Naruto?
"Naruto Uzumaki has stolen the forbidden jutsu scroll." Instantly, every jonin and ANBU in the room except Sarutobi's personal guard let out a stream of curses from the demon haters and cries of "nani" from people who liked him.
"He must be found! The demon brat!"
"I say will kill the bastard!"
"CALM DOWN!" The Third commanded silence. "He must be found, but not harmed. Chances are he has no idea what he has done…"
"Like it matters? Our villages most dangerous jutsu are now in the hands of the Kyuubi…"
"No, they are not." The leader of the Aburame clan spoke up, silencing everyone in the group. They all knew that no one from the clan talked unless they found it absolutely necessary, something about disturbing the bugs in their vocal cords was the common rumor.
"What…"
"I said that the scroll is not in the hands of the Kyuubi. It is in the hands of Naruto Uzumaki, who, unless my memory is faulty, doesn't look, act, or think anything like the Kyuubi from 12 years ago."
"Shira is right!" This time it was the Nara who spoke up. Another person that was not often heard from. Though the reason was mostly that they found arguing too troublesome. "The Forth sealed it into the kid, he didn't make the kid into a new one. I mean, what's the logic behind that? You all know he would have sacrificed his life to save anyone in the village, but he would never sacrifice himself in an attempt to delay the inevitable. He must have thought the Kyuubi would be sealed away for good!"
"All this arguing is getting us no where! And both sides have been argued so many times it has gotten to just be futile to even adress the issue anymore." It was the Inuzuka who spoke up this time. "The brat, demon or not, has the most dangerous scroll our village has. We must find him now."
"Good. My orders are as follows. Split up. Here is a map with your designated search pattern. Go." All of the ninja jumped away. Sarutobi, on the other hand, gave a small smile. He was happy to find that some families, at least, supported Naruto. Sarutobi looked into his mystic ball and saw the same thing he had seen ten minutes ago. Naruto and Hinata sitting over an open scroll. He smiled. He knew exactly where they were and knew Iruka was on his way.
Iruka, on the other hand, had no idea where Naruto was, nor that he was nearly on top of them. He had been searching his area of the city for hours now and it looked like Naruto must be in another. It was only in the small forest area near the village walls that he felt two small chakra presences. Two? Who is this? Iruka finally jumped off of the last tree branch and into a small clearing in the forest. There stood Hinata Hyuga in her pajamas, blushing furiously at being caught in the act of supporting Naruto on her shoulder. Naruto looked absolutely beat. After finding Hinata a jutsu to practice Naruto had gone off and tried to make more kage bunshins. He had managed to get it so he could have ten bunshins, but then he collapsed from chakra depletion. Hinata had just found him after practicing her own jutsu, and getting almost nowhere, and had decided to head home with her… friend… over her shoulder. Iruka had hopped down right in front of the blind Hyuga, startling her.
"I…Iruka-sensei!"
"Hey, I found you…" Naruto grinned at his sensei. This was just the man he was looking for, or would have gone looking for if he had had enough energy to stand. It was hard enough keeping the jutsu with Hinata up.
"No, Naruto. I found you. Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?"
"Trouble? No, Mizuki-sensei told me that this was the perfect place to train. He also told me that this was the second way to get genin. He said if I managed to get this scroll out from under the Hokage's nose and show you one of the techniques then you would pass me!" Naruto smiled his obnoxiously large smile. "And guess what? I learned one! Hinata learned one too!"
"N…Naruto-kun… you stole it?" Hinata looked shocked.
"Hai, Mizuki-sensei said it was part of the test. He said it would test my thinking and stealth skills."
"Ano… I… guess…"
"GET DOWN!" Iruka suddenly dived, pushing both of his students to the ground, and getting a vest full of kunai in the process. Both students turned to look at Iruka, now pinned to the wall of the shed on the edge of the clearing.
"Iruka-sensei!"
"Very good job, Naruto. Now… give me the scroll." He looked up to see Mizuki standing on top of one of the trees.
"Nani? What are you doing… Iruka-sensei? Why did you attack Iruka-sensei?"
"Naruto!" Iruka pulled the kunai out of his vest and pulled out the one that had pierced his leg. "Naruto, Hinata! Run! You can't let him have the scroll!"
"Nani?"
"Naruto, give me the scroll. After all… what would you do with it… demon…"
"Mizuki!"
"Naruto, do you want to know a secret? It's a secret from 12 years ago."
"Don't!"
"You don't deserve to even be here, you hell spawn. You killed my parents and you killed Iruka's too. 12 years ago the Kyuubi attacked. But, unlike the textbooks say, the Forth was not able to kill said demon. So he sealed it into a child. That child…"
"STOP IT!"
"…was you."
"No…" Naruto knelt on the ground, Hinata was next to him, also stunned. She didn't believe him, but even if it was true she wouldn't care. Hinata faced the general direction she assumed he was in.
"S…so? N…Naruto-kun is n…not a d…d…demon. He is N…Naruto-kun! Even if he has a d…demon sealed inside, he would never hurt his friends… he is going to be Hokage!"
"Hokage? Ha! Don't make me laugh! That demon brat couldn't become half the… nani?" Mizuki, Iruka, and Hinata all watched as Naruto stood up. A killing intent was coming off of him that wasn't normal for Naruto... or a human. He faced the ground.
"I… am going to be Hokage one day! AND NO ONE IS GOING TO STOP ME! NOT NINJAS, NOT SOME STUPID DEMON, AND MOST CERTAINLY NOT YOU!" Naruto looked up, and Iruka and Mizuki gave small gasps. Narutos eyes, unseen to either him or Hinata, were red with slits in them, not blue. Hinata was just as angry as Naruto. She flipped through a large amount of hand signs. "Water Style: Steaming Geyser Jutsu!" Hinata put her hands to the ground and the tree under Mizuki suddenly became shrouded in a hot mist. Mizuki, not knowing what it was, leapt off and landed near Naruto. Iruka was slightly stunned that she was able to use the Second's water jutsu after only a few hours. Granted, it wasn't nearly as powerful, but just being able to pull it off was amazing. It would normally send up huge geysers of boiling water. Hinata had only managed steam, but that was the first step. Naruto did his hand sign. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto and Mizuki were suddenly surrounded by what looked like a few hundred Narutos. Iruka had to do a double take to make sure he was still alive and awake. Mizuki just stared and let his eye begin to twitch. Seconds after that and he was unconscious and on the ground. Iruka walked up to the two ninja.
"Wow, did you learn that in the period of a few hours?"
"Yeah. It wasn't that hard."
"Wasn't that… whatever. Naruto… you know… about the Kyuubi…"
"…"
"He was telling… a lie."
"Huh?"
"It was true that you have the Kyuubi sealed inside of you, but you are not him. You did not kill anyone. The Kyuubi did, and that is all some people choose to see when they look at you."
"Why?"
"Because they can't accept that the one thing they weren't strong enough to defeat is not dead and can actually be contained by a 12 year old boy. And because most of them are royal pains in the ass without a set of brains to match." Hinata blushed.
"I…Iruka-sensei…"
"Oops! Sorry, Hinata. You know, your jutsu that you pulled off was pretty impressive, too."
"Ano…"
"Hai, you are the first person to use that jutsu since the Second Hokage! Congratulations!"
"A…arigato." Hinata blushed deeper. Naruto brushed himself off.
"Naruto, close your eyes for a second."
"Huh?"
"Close your eyes, I have a surprise."
"Um… ok!"
"HIASHI-SAMA!"
"What? Have you found them?"
"Hai, they just walked up to the door!"
"Where are they now?"
"A…ano… we are right h…here…" Hiashi watched as his two children came out from behind the branch member. He signaled that the guard could leave and shut the door behind him. Hiashi motioned for Hinata and Naruto to come closer. They could tell he was mad. He was using his scary emotionless face. Naruto cringed a bit as he and Hinata stopped right in front of Hiashi.
"Well? What do you have to say for yourselves?"
"Well… you see, otou-san…"
"Hinata, it was my fault."
"How was it your fault? I was told that both of you were gone from you beds. I was told this at midnight. It is now six in the morning. Both of you left, and in doing so caused me a lot of… stress. It was like that night…" Hiashi's face slipped from its emotionless one and into one of sadness. Tears were in his eyes as he rushed forward to embrace his child and the boy he had come to think of as his own.
"Hiashi-sama… I'm sorry… you know that I didn't get genin, right?"
"Yes…"
Hiashi was sitting in his office, filling out paperwork for the clan, when Hinata burst through the door with a sad smile on her face. Naruto was not with her.
"Hinata, how are you doing?"
"I reached genin…" Hinata pulled her headband off to show that it was no longer just a piece of cloth covering her eyes, but actually a Konoha forehead protector. Hiashi smiled.
"That is great, daughter! I am very proud of you!"
"Ano… otou-san… Naruto…"
"Hm?"
"He didn't make it…"
"What? But he could do those jutsus forwards and backwards yesterday!"
"H...hai, but this time he didn't dispel the jutsu he used so I could see. Somehow my thoughts interfered with his jutsu and he failed! I feel so…"
"Now, now, Hinata. Don't feel bad. There was little you could have done."
"I know, otou-san, but I feel like I made him fail. And now…"
"He will be fine. You just need to trust in him. Just wait, he will be a genin in no time."
"Hai." Hiashi smiled, knowing that his daughter would not have been able to talk without stuttering if Naruto had been here.
"Well… I got it!"
"What?" Hiashi glanced down at the forehead of Naruto to see a genuine Konoha headband there and a genuine smile on Naruto's face.
"I got it tonight!"
"What happened tonight?"
"Well, yesterday I met up with Mizuki-teme and he told me…"
"Naruto, I taught you better manners then that! Mizuki-san."
"No, Hiashi-sama, Mizuki-teme. Just listen. He told me that if I managed to "aquire" a certain jutsu scroll from the Hokage's office and learn one technique from it then Iruka-sensei would let me graduate."
"What?"
"Yeah, so I did. I got the scroll, which turned out to be a scroll of forbidden jutsu, and came to get Hinata so she could learn one too. We went out and we each learned one jutsu. I learned Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, Hinata learned a cool geyser one. So then Iruka-sensei appeared and…" Naruto looked down at the ground.
"What?"
"… well. Mizuki-teme showed up and he hurt Iruka-sensei. Then he wanted me to give him the scroll, but sensei said not to. The… that teme told me… he said…"
"He said you were the container for the Kyuubi." Naruto looked up at Hiashi. He had been expecting for his adopted father to not know and hate him after he said it.
"Hai."
"Well, now that both you and Hinata know I can tell you both the story of the Kyuubi."
"Hai."
"Well, twelve years ago on Naruto's birthday there was an attack on the city by a demon. It was the Kyuubi no kitsune, the nine-tailed demon of legend. The most powerful demon lord. It attacked and the entire city tried to repel it. We… weren't able to. Your mother and father died in that attack, Naruto. But the Fourth, he had an idea. The only way to kill an immortal is to bind their soul to a mortal. So he took the only possible host for the Kyuubi and used a forbidden jutsu that sealed the Kyuubi inside of you, but it also caused the Fourth to die. He did it to protect the city, he even called you a hero before dieing. Those scars on your cheeks are actually marks made because the demon is inside of you, whisker marks."
"But... but…"
"Naruto, no matter what anyone tells you, you are not the Kyuubi. You are the Kyuubi's container, the jailor, not the caged. One of these days he might even help you. I was there at the sealing, entrusted to take care of you."
"What do you mean by "help"? So far all I have gotten are nasty looks and almost getting killed by a chunin instructor."
"Oh, one day you will know what I mean. Now, both of you."
"Hai?"
"Get ready for academy. Now that both of you are genin, you are going to get teams today."
"HAI!" Naruto ran off, accidentally leaving Hinata still kneeling in front of her father. Hinata still had something to say.
"O…otou-san."
"Yes, Hinata?"
"What Mizuki-te… san said... about Naruto… I don't believe it."
"What do you mean?"
"He said… that Naruto… would never get to be Hokage. Naruto will, and I w…will help him!" Hiashi smiled at his daughter. It was exactly as he had hoped and thought would happen. Hinata was too kind to blame Naruto for the Kyuubi's doing, and she was right. Hiashi sent her off with pat on her head. She was probably dead tired, but sleep could wait. It is said that people are drawn together stronger in bad times then in good times, and this was exactly what they were thinking about. Hinata had just found out the worst part about Naruto, and was just more connected with him. Hiashi watched as she found her way out of the room and down the hall. She is strong of heart, even without the Byakugan she would be a good clan head. But somehow I don't think the counsel would agree.
Hinata's room was only a few more feet down the hall. Definitely not ten meters from her father's office. And sadly, for Hinata's sake, it wasn't ten meters from Naruto's room or the nearest bathroom. Naruto had decided to take a shower. Sadly, Hinata couldn't reach the bathroom before he turned on the shower and her banging on the door was useless. Her banging grew softer and softer as she watched, unwillingly of course, Naruto start to undress himself to take a shower. When Naruto came out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his body he found an unconscious Hinata leaning against the wall. He tried to wake her up, but each time she looked like she was about to wake up she just blushed and passed out again. Naruto gave up after a short amount of time and carried her to her room. I hope she is ok for school...
Naruto sat in his favorite seat next to Hinata and Shino with his head back and snoring lightly. They had gotten there early and Hinata couldn't bring herself to wake him up… or touch him in any way. Shino had inquired about how Naruto had gotten a headband and Hinata had told him most of the story, just not the parts about the Kyuubi. She was as tired as Naruto, but she managed to keep her eyelids pried open for the moment. Shino was on the other side of Naruto as her and suddenly leaned over to her.
"Hinata-san."
"Y…you don't need to say… san…"
"Hinata."
"Hai?"
"Can I wake Naruto?" Naruto's snoring was getting on his nerves slightly, but the reason he wanted Naruto awake was because Iruka had just walked into the room.
"Hai."
Shino almost seemed happy as a bug flew from his sleeve and onto Naruto's face, where it ended up biting Naruto on the nose.
"HUH! I'll take a miso ramen!" The entire class was silent and stared at Naruto in the back. The black haired kid in the middle, flanked by pink and blond haired girls, gave a short snort at him. In response to his actions, each girl also stuck their noses up at Naruto. There was a thin boy sleeping in the front next to a delightfully plump boy who woke up at Naruto's outburst. But he didn't say anything except a mumble about something being too troublesome. The large boy looked back at Naruto and gave him a thumbs up. Naruto didn't know what was going on still, so he gave one back. A boy with a dog on his head called him a baka before turning back to Iruka.
"Naruto. Stay awake, ok?"
"Hai, sensei."
"Iruka-sensei?" It was the pink haired girl next to the cool kid. Naruto didn't like the looks of him at all. It reminded him of what Neji had become in the past nine years. A snob. Heck, it was Sasuke. Naruto didn't like anything about him.
"Yes, Sakura?"
"I thought that Naruto didn't pass. Why is he here?"
"Because Naruto managed to save an important document from falling into a spy's hands last night. That is probably why he is so tired. He was official promoted to genin, along with the rest of you, for defeating the low level chunin, former Mizuki-sensei, and saving the scroll from harm."
The class was stunned. Only the black haired kid spoke. "You mean this… dobe… managed to beat a chunin? Mizuki-sensei taught weapons training in small arms. How could a stupid kid like him win?" Naruto was on his feet in an instant, ready to use his new jutsu to pulverize the offender.
"Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto did. I witnessed it."
"N…Naruto-kun is n…not stupid!" Everyone, including the Sasuke kid, turned to face a very red faced Hinata. She was standing next to Naruto. That is, she was standing next to Naruto until she saw throught his eyes that he was looking at her. Then she was passed out next to him. Naruto was trying to wake her up while Iruka started listing teams.
"Ok, so each of you knows how this works. Three of you will be paired with a jonin instructor. You will meet your teacher sometime today. I will now announce the teams. Get used to them, because they can't be changed. Kiba Inuzuka, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno. You are now team seven." Sasuke and Kiba both slammed their heads into the tables in front of them.
"Naruto Uzumaki, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. Team eight." Suddenly Naruto was jumping around and laughing.
"YESYESYES! The three coolest ninjas in one team!"
"Naruto, calm down."
"Hai!" Naruto sat down and continued to try to wake Hinata.
"Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka. Team nine." Choji pumped a fist while the Nara kid slept through it. Ino looked about as happy as Sasuke did.
"Your sensei will arrive shortly. Congratulations and good luck." Iruka left with a smile. As he left a beautiful woman with red eyes entered.
"Team eight?"
"HAI!" Naruto suddenly appeared in front of her with Hinata slung over his shoulder. Shino was right behind him. She blinked a few times, not even seeing where he had come from before motioning for them to follow her. They did and eventually arrived at a clearing in one of the training areas. Naruto set Hinata down and she woke up. This time she stayed awake, with Naruto not two inches from her face and his lips so close… augh! Hinata sat up quickly and noticed a woman she had never seen before. Which didn't mean much because there was still so much she had never seen. Naruto still had his jutsu on, so she was able to see her.
"Um… Hinata Hyuga. I am over here."
"Gomen."
"Alright. I guess we should start with some introductions. I will go first. My name is Kurenai Yuhi. I am your jonin instructor. You can call me Kurenai-sensei, thank you. I enjoy gardening as well as being a ninja. My goal is to eventually rid the world of evil so that I don't need to be a ninja. Now, you, the yellow haired kid."
Naruto thought her goal was quite lofty, but not any more then his was.
"Hai. I am Naruto Uzumaki. I like Hinata, Shino, and the rest of my friends. I also like ramen and new jutsu. I am going to be Hokage one day, but before that I am going to help Hinata get her eyes back!"
"I am Shino Aburame. I enjoy… insects… I am going to be the next head of my clan."
"Ano… I am Hinata Hyuga… um… I… I like… um… flower pressing… and um…" Hinata was blushing furiously. "I want to be a good leader to my clan… eventually… um… and… I am going to… h…help N…Naruto-kun become Hokage." She smiled shyly and turned away from the group so she could no longer see her blush through Naruto's eyes, only her hair.
"Well, I must say that this is a quite… unique team. Two clan heads, one blind girl, and a hyperactive blond."
"Hey! Hinata is not blind! She can see just fine!"
"What? I was told that she had her…"
"Yeah, but I made a jutsu so she can see! I am still working on it, but one day it is going to be the most known jutsu in the village! Just ask old man Hokage…"
"N… Naruto-kun…"
"Fine… Hokage-SAMA."
"So Hinata, you can see me?"
"When N…Naruto-kun looks at you."
"Yeah, until I find another way, she looks through my eyes! Cool, huh?"
"Yes… actually that is very interesting. I think I will talk to the Hokage. Show up here tomorrow, we will begin training at seven in the morning. Be here."
"Hai!" Kurenai disappeared. Shino stood up to leave, but just as he was about to head out he turned to Naruto.
"Naruto…"
"Yeah, Shino?"
"We are going to be a great team."
"You bet! Friends make the best teams!" Naruto smiled at the Aburame and was surprised to find that he could barely see Shino smiling back.
"Thank you, Naruto."
AN: Read and Review, please. So… why didn't Hinata's bond with Naruto screw up the Kage Bunshin? Explain it later, I will. What the hell do I plan to do for the land of waves mission? Don't have a damn clue yet, but I will have it ready in the next chapter. Will Naruto's jutsu advance? Hell yeah! A new way to use it will be in the next chapter. Remember the piece of paper in Hinata's pocket? Good. That might come into play in the next chapter. A little. No, Naruto won't learn that YET. Not even close to a jutsu of that caliber. Ok, next chap in a few days. I changed the rating cause I don't have blood yet, so if I feel like lowering the rating for now.
