Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon pushed aside the branches of the bush they were hiding in. They were across the street from the Hokage's Tower. The Konohamaru Ninja Squad was in position to 'escort' the Boss and his new and improved girlfriend on their date. Udon had actually made the suggestion. It was obvious that the Boss would need someone to keep people from interfering with his night.
"Konohamaru-kun, have they left the Tower yet?" Moegi asked idly.
"Nah, I don't think so. If they want to make the best time to Mizai, they'll have to leave through the main entrance of the Tower. I don't think we've missed them."
"You haven't. They are still in the tower." A silky voice caused the self-proclaimed apprentices of Uzumaki Naruto to jump out of their skin.
Konohamaru whirled around and pointed a finger at the intruder. "Dang it, Hanabi! What the heck are you doing here?"
"That's Hanabi-sama to you! I'm the heiress to the Hyūga Clan and the Number One Ninja in our class! And to answer your question, I'm here for the same reason you guys are!" Hanabi was indignant at the lack of respect!
"Uh, Hanabi-sama… Why do you care about making sure the Boss has a good date?" Udon sniffled.
"Because your 'Boss' isn't the only one on the date! My sister is also on this completely unauthorized date! Hinata hasn't been this happy in a long time! I'm not going to let some idiot ruin it for her!" Hanabi spoke with passion and authority.
"I'm glad to hear that, Hanabi-chan. I just have one question." Moegi asked excitedly.
"Oh?" Hanabi's tone switched from 'heiress of Konoha's Warrior Clan' to 'girly girl' in a heartbeat.
"Where did you get those clothes? I like them." The girls started chatting away. Udon's eyes glazed over in boredom and Konohamaru cleared his throat.
"FOCUS LADIES!" The girls turned an angry glare on Konohamaru. "Can Udon and I count on you to help us out?"
Hanabi rose from her sitting position and straightened her red blouse before adjusting her matching beret. "Of course!"
"Konohamaru, why do I have the sudden urge to let Hanabi be in charge?" Udon asked nervously.
"Cause she'd kick our buts with her Jūken and consider it a relaxing Tuesday? Oh, and the fact that Moegi will probably take her side." Konohamaru whispered to his best friend.
"Yeah, those two are forming a pack. We wouldn't stand a chance." Udon agreed.
"Konohamaru! Udon! Come on, we have to make sure no one ruins my sister's date!" Hanabi stamped her foot.
The four Academy students crawled out of the bush and were suddenly overwhelmed by an ominous presence. "So, Hinata-sama is on a date."
"N…neji-niisan!" Hanabi sputtered. Her prodigy of a cousin and his team had somehow materialized outside the bush.
"Well, who had the guts to actually ask Hiashi-sama for permission to date Hinata?" Neji's female teammate, Tenten asked with amusement dancing on every syllable.
"That… that is part of the reason we're 'observing' the date. No one asked father's permission." Hanabi confessed. Konohamaru and his friends were too intimidated by Neji's harsh stance, the huge number of scrolls labeled 'weapons' Tenten carried and Lee's spandex to say anything.
"What? There is no one in Konoha who would be willing to risk Hiashi-sama's wrath like that!" Neji spat out in disbelief.
"Oh crap! Here they come!" Moegi panicked. The two groups jumped back into the bush.
"I want that dress!" Hanabi and Moegi squealed as Hinata and Naruto emerged from the Hokage's Tower.
"Shush, they're headed this way." Konohamaru whispered harshly. Naruto and Hinata walked towards the Civilian Quarter hand in hand. The couple was chatting happily and oblivious to the nearly everything around them.
"Oh good, it's Naruto. This means I probably won't have to kill anyone tonight." Neji breathed a sigh of relief.
The four Academy students laughed nervously while hoping Neji was mostly joking. Tenten held out her hand and Lee somehow produced a ryō note.
"I've seen everything now. Who do you think got Naruto into a suit?" Tenten put the bill away.
"Mizai wouldn't have let him in the door without a suit." Moegi admitted.
"I don't mean to harbor unyouthful doubts about a friend, especially one who is a fellow genius of hard work like Naruto-san, but how is he affording all this?" Lee questioned as he strained to follow Naruto and Hinata.
"We'll explain on the way." Konohamaru crawled out of the bush. "Come on, they'll get away before we can get into position."
Team Guy, Hanabi and the Konohamaru Ninja Squad bolted along the roofs. The seven were completely unaware they were far from the only people taking interest in Naruto and Hinata's night.
Naruto had faced down S-Ranked Missing Ninja, Gaara of the Desert, the One-tailed Bijū, Orochimaru, an angry Tsunade and Uchiha Sasuke. Those battles had been terrifying, but Naruto had always had an unshakable confidence that he would succeed. After all, he couldn't die until he had achieved his dream of being Hokage!
This situation caused Naruto to feel completely out of his depth. Naruto wasn't on a mission expecting to be ambushed by enemy ninja or bandits. He was on a date. Naruto had always wanted to go on a date, but he had always thought it'd be with Sakura-chan at Ichiraku's. That hadn't happened. Sakura-chan seemed to be drifting further and further away. Sasuke leaving must have hit her harder than I thought. Instead, his date was with Hinata-chan at Mizai's. It wasn't what Naruto had expected, but he realized it was what he wanted.
A small part of him still felt like he was betraying Team Seven. Am I betraying Team Seven or am I the only one who really believed in it to begin with? Naruto shook that thought off. I thought enough in the hospital. To hell with this! I'm not going to ruin anything for her tonight!
"Hinata-chan." Naruto started to speak. The blond took a quick breath. "Thank you."
The simple 'thank you' caught the Hyūga girl completely off guard. Naruto simply smiled. "You've done so much for me the last few days. Visiting me in the hospital, saving my taste buds from the inhuman agony of hospital food, teaching me manners…, being my friend. And that's just recently. I'm embarrassed I haven't thanked you enough for the cream after my fight with Kiba or your pep talk right before the Chunnin exam finals. There was no way I would have wiped the floor with Neji if you hadn't called me a proud failure. Those words saved my life."
Hinata choked back the urge to cry. "Naruto-kun… you… you don't have to thank me. I… I am just trying to repay you for all the times you saved me. I… I don't know if I would have survived my fight with Neji-nii-san without your support. And you saved me long before that. Just your… just your smile gave me the will to keep going."
"I… I never knew. I guess I'll just have to keep smiling then!" Naruto said as he gave Hinata's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Never stop, Naruto-kun. Hinata thought when she couldn't find her voice.
Neji grumbled as he read Naruto and Hinata's lips using his bloodline limit. "Stop making it sound like I'm a bad guy. And Naruto didn't wipe the floor with me."
"Uh, Neji-san… you did say you wouldn't kill the Boss tonight right?" Konohamaru gulped.
"I said probably, Konohamaru-san. That's not the same as won't." Neji snapped.
"My eternal rival, I am sure your cousin would appreciate it if you did not attempt to slay her date tonight." Lee said in an attempt to placate his genius teammate.
"Fine, I'll do it tomorrow." Neji huffed.
Sakura was walking along with Team Ten and enjoying the crisp fall weather. Her training was progressing at a pace she didn't think possible. I'll never hold anyone back again!
"Oh my god, Forehead! I think I'm seeing things!" Ino squeaked.
Sakura looked in the direction of Ino's gleeful pointing. "Is that… Naruto in a suit?" The kunoichi of Team Seven could hardly believe her eyes. Uzumaki Naruto wearing a formal suit used to be high on her 'things that will never happen' list. However, after Sasuke's betrayal, Sakura knew she shouldn't be surprised by anything. It took her a fraction of a second to process that Naruto was with Hinata. Thank god. One more push and I'll free him from the promise.
Chōji chugged a protein drink. "I don't believe it! That is Naruto in a suit! If he wasn't on a date, I'd ask him where he got it."
"Really? You'd wear a suit?" Ino wheeled around giddily.
"Yeah. Problem is, I'd have to wait until I'm back to normal. It'd be a shame to spend that amount of money on a suit and never be able to wear it again." The Akimichi heir shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh." Ino frowned for a half a heartbeat. "When you go pick it out, I'm coming with you!"
"I'd like that!" Chōji, admirably, fought off the urge to fist pump triumphantly. "So… are we going to follow Naruto and Hinata?"
"Chōji, you're an even bigger genius than Shika over there!" Ino was practically bouncing at the thought of spying on Hinata and Naruto.
"Tch, this is far too troublesome. I'm going home to play shoji with dad." Shikamaru said lazily.
"Ah… someone misses their girlfriend." Ino drew out each word. Shikamaru huffed and stuffed his hands into his pockets before walking off. "So, you coming Forehead?"
"You bet, Ino-pig." Sakura grinned. Her excitement wasn't centered on simply spying on her friends and collecting new gossip. Sakura knew that if Naruto had a good date and realized the opportunity he had with Hinata that he'd drift away from her in a romantic sense. She hoped, no, she knew Naruto would remain her friend. It was the kind of truly wonderful person Naruto was.
The change would be hard but, it would set Naruto free. And in the end, that was all that mattered.
In the Hokage's Tower, Tsunade watched her 'grandson's' date with great interest. The Sannin was pleased so far with Naruto's behavior. The brat wasn't acting like an orphan trained by the world's most notorious pervert. Tsunade was very pleased to see that he was acting like a complete gentleman. The door to her office opened and Iruka and Shizune strolled in. Iruka carried a bowl of popcorn and Shizune followed closely behind with a tray of drinks.
"Iruka, I take it you coached Naruto on how to behave tonight?" Tsunade smiled, not only at the question, but at the sight of Naruto leaning close and whispering something to Hinata.
"I did, Hokage-sama." Iruka answered. "He's not acting out is he?"
"He's acting like a perfect gentleman." Tsunade's face suddenly became deadly serious. "What the hell did you tell him to get him to act so polite? As your Hokage, I demand to know how you did it!"
"I, uh, told him to think about how Jiraiya-sama would act during the date." The two women in the room glared daggers at the teacher. "And do the exact opposite."
"Good man." Tsunade grinned.
Mizai was one of the most exclusive restaurants in all of Konoha and was a late night destination for the village's wealthiest and most influential ninja and civilians. The restaurant opened for two hours at lunch before closing until six in the evening for dinner. Securing a reservation late in the evening demonstrated high social standing and connections. This was not to say early evening reservations signified lower standing. Mizai was, after all, Mizai. There were a few advantages to the earlier reservations, especially on a 'slower' night like a Thursday.
Namely privacy.
The doors to the restaurant opened and Imai bowed as the young couple entered. "Good evening, Naruto-san and Hinata-sama. I hope such a lovely couple is having a wonderful evening."
The two teens flushed a bit at the greeting. Naruto fought back the urge to scratch the back of his head with his free hand. "Good evening Imai-san. Tonight's been unforgettable."
The hostess and owner felt her smile broaden as Hinata's blush intensified. "Well, I shall show you to your table. Please, follow me."
The table was in the corner of the restaurant. Naruto remembered Hinata's lessons and made sure Hinata had the best view of the dining area.
"Thank you, Naruto-kun." Hinata said with a smile. She was glad Naruto had remembered the lessons. However, the greatest source of her happiness was that Naruto still had his trademark enthusiasm. Naruto wasn't simply following the rules of etiquette like they were a taijutsu kata. His every action was smooth, natural and most importantly, warm.
Naruto-kun's treating this like a real date and not just a lesson!
"You're welcome, Hinata-chan." Naruto responded as he took his seat. Imai handed each shinobi their menus. After Hinata and Naruto gave their drink orders, Naruto took a deep breath. "This has to be the fanciest place I've ever been to. Not even some of the casinos Er… Jiraiya-sensei and I searched for ba… Tsunade-sama in were this nice."
"I would love to hear more about your mission to bring Tsunade-shishō back to Konoha. I've only heard the official report." Hinata spoke with a bit of awe in her voice.
Man, those etiquette lessons got one thing wrong. I've got the best view tonight. Oh no! I haven't even gotten a letter from Ero-sennin in nearly a week and I'm still thinking like him! Iruka-sensei's going to chew me out!
"I'll admit it. I'm a bit impressed." Kiba whistled. Akamaru yipped in agreement. The Inuzuka had doubted whether Naruto would actually take Hinata to Mizai's. Kiba originally thought that Konoha's most infamous prankster was playing some sort of cruel joke on Kiba's quasi-adopted sister-figure. Even the stoic Aburame Shino expressed a 'degree of concern' about the date. It was only natural then, that as Hinata's older brother stand-ins, Shino, Akamaru and Kiba would 'observe' how Naruto treated her tonight.
And kick Naruto's ass if he broke Hinata's heart.
"It appears as if Naruto-san is not simply treating the evening as a continuation of his etiquette training. Why? I believe our comrades believe this is a true date." Shino analyzed his teammate and her date/student's actions.
"Yeah, yeah." Kiba waved his hand dismissively. "What I really want to know is how Naruto's affording all of this. I mean, that's a pretty kick-ass suit and Mizai sure as hell ain't cheap."
"Naruto-san, and I, both made considerable amount betting on the Chunnin exam finals." Shino confessed. Akamaru barked out a question. Kiba shook his head as he laughed.
"You? Betting? I don't believe it."
Shino sighed and recalled the meeting he had with Naruto in the hospital prior the blonde's release.
Shino's hives buzzed as he entered Naruto's hospital room. The hyperactive Genin's presence always seemed to put the kikai on edge for the briefest of periods. All of Shino's attempts to ascertain the specific stimuli that instigated the reaction had failed. None of his fellow Aburame wished to discuss the true nature of Uzumaki Naruto. Shino had begun to develop a number of somewhat troubling theories, but he had not had the opportunities to gather the necessary observational data.
"How are you doing Shino?" Naruto asked suddenly and drew Shino's attention from his analysis.
"I am physically fine. Emotionally? I am ashamed that I was not able to assist my comrades in the attempt to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke." Shino confessed.
"Everyone survived and we'll get other opportunities to get Sasuke back. I know that the next chance we get; you'll be right beside us, Shino. You're a good guy to have watching our backs." Naruto's undeniable sincerity and utter conviction caused an unforeseen swell of emotion in Shino.
"Thank you for your confidence and understanding, Naruto-san." Shino bowed his head and felt the relief of his colonies.
"Well, I know what'll help you emotionally a bit. The killing we made on our bets." Naruto whispered conspiratorially.
"What were our profits?" Shino couldn't contain his curiosity.
"Oh… only nine and a half thousand Ryōeach." Naruto said offhandedly.
Shino stood silently as he confirmed that his hearing was not impaired. "That… is a substantial amount."
"Heck yeah it is. I'm going to save mine. I really haven't had much money before, so I'd like to have a 'safety net'. What are you going to do with your cash?"
Shino nodded. "Your course of action is prudent." Far more prudent than I would give you credit for, Naruto-san. Shino admitted to himself. "I believe that I shall invest in some interesting property to the north of Konoha. The particular region of forest is a breeding ground for many rare and beneficial insect species."
"Thanks and that's awesome, Shino!" Naruto held out his hand. "Pound it?"
Shino stared at Naruto's outstretched fist for a moment before punching his own fist against it. The Aburame Genin fixed Naruto in place with a serious glare. "This never leaves room."
"Wouldn't dream of it. Your money is with Old Man Teuchi at Ichiraku Ramen Stand. Don't worry, he made even more money than we did betting on the two of us, so he hasn't touched it." Naruto reported.
Shino nodded and left. He was thankful for his trench coat. The amount of money he was going to be carrying around would likely draw a great amount of attention. Still, it would certainly be enjoyable.
Kiba was growing impatient as his teammate simply stared in the direction of the restaurant. Suddenly, he spoke. "Yes, Kiba-san. I had Naruto-san place several, very successful, bets."
"Who would have ever thought?" Kiba shook his head in utter disbelief.
Naruto whistled as he washed his hands. He couldn't believe how incredible tonight was. The food was great. Hinata looked great. Damn it Ero-sennin! Naruto quickly thought as an image of Hinata in her dress flashed to the front of his memory. Naruto was doubly thankful he hadn't screwed anything up yet.
Most importantly, Hinata seemed to be having a great time. I don't think I've seen her smile this much, ever.
"Yo."
"Oh, hey Kakashi-sensei. How are you tonight?" Naruto asked as he dried his hands. The sudden realization that his Jonin instructor was somehow directly behind him hit Naruto like one of Gamabunta's landings. "Holy!"
Kakashi quickly slapped his hand over his student's mouth. "Shh… Don't want to disturb your date. Nice catch by the way."
"Oi! Hinata-chan isn't a catch! She's my date and friend! Don't act like she's some object!" Naruto hissed.
"Sorry, didn't think you'd get so worked up." Kakashi apologized.
"How did you get in here and more importantly, why?" Naruto quizzed his commanding officer.
"First, I was an ANBU captain for ten years. Do you really think I can't sneak into the bathroom of a restaurant that caters to civilians? Second, I just want to wish you luck and that I hope you have a good time tonight."
Naruto shrugged his shoulders. He had forgotten that Kakashi-sensei had been a legend in ANBU. "Point and thanks."
"You're welcome! Now, get back to your date! Oh, and don't forget to mention how she looks! Women love compliments!" Kakashi said before disappearing in a swirl of wind, leaves and hand cloths.
Naruto sighed before a scary thought entered his mind. If Kakashi-sensei was spying on his date with Hinata-chan, who else was? "Oh god, please don't let Neji or her dad be out there!"
Iruka shook his head as he watched Kakashi Body Flicker away. "I hope no one else interferes with Naruto's first date."
Iruka tensed when he felt a finger run down his cheek. "Aw… you sound so… fatherly…" He gulped as Tsunade whispered in his ear.
"T…Tsuande-sama… are… are you hitting on me?" Iruka barely managed to force out.
"Maaaaybe." Tsunade said with a slight slur to her words.
Hinata quietly finished her meal while throwing the occasional glance at Naruto. Several times tonight, she had felt the urge to pinch herself. The entire evening seemed to be a dream. Her crush had asked her out to dinner. Naruto was the model of perfect manners. Hinata had always drawn her confidence from Naruto, but this new experience flowed from a slightly different source. Naruto wouldn't have achieved this without Hinata's help. She had helped Naruto take another step closer to his dream!
"Naruto-kun…" She whispered as she looked up.
"Yes, Hinata-chan?" He smiled warmly.
"Tonight… I… I have enjoyed every moment of it. I'll always treasure the memories we've created." The heiress confided in Naruto.
"So have I." Naruto took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. "I… I would love to have the honor of a second date sometime."
Hinata froze in place. "I… I would love that too." Naruto-kun wants a second date! But we'll have to figure out a way to approach my father. I'll tell Naruto-kun about that later. No need for him to panic in the middle of the restaurant.
"Thank you, Hinata-chan. I, uh, didn't really have the opportunity earlier, but… But you deserve to know how beautiful you look." Naruto was uncharacteristically shy.
Hinata blushed furiously. "You… you are too kind, Naruto-kun."
"I take after the best." Naruto reached across the table and took Hinata's hand.
Meihui sipped at her tea while Kenta passively smoked on his pipe. The old samurai had informed her of Uzumaki Naruto's date with the heiress of the Hyūga clan. Meihui had trouble believing someone who was a clanless orphan would be able to court the eldest daughter of the most prestigious clan in all of Konoha. Though, the Land of Whirlpools spy supposed that Naruto's personal relationship with the Hokage granted him some political leeway.
"Kenta, how exclusive is this Mizai restaurant?"
"Exceptionally. I asked several Konoha citizens about the establishment. It is widely considered the most prestigious restaurant in the entire city." The retired warrior answered after a satisfied puff.
"This Naruto must be an amazing individual." Meihui savored both her tea and the constant discoveries regarding Naruto.
"I would say so." Kenta said as he stared into the distance. "And there he is. Naruto and the Hyūga will be passing to your left."
Zhuāng nodded. She watched intently as a cute, and impeccably dressed, young couple walked by. Meihui smiled at how happy they looked together. It may be self-serving, but I think discovering he's royalty will help young Naruto. Instinctively, she wished for the boy's happiness. Guowei would be this age. "Uzumaki-sama certainly looks like royalty. He even has a princess."
The old samurai smiled. "Indeed he does."
Normally, Naruto loved seeing the Hokage's Tower. It was the physical representation of his dream; even more so than the Mountain. One day, his face would be on that monument. The tower would always be the tower. Naruto knew it was one of the few constants in his life.
And right now, Naruto wasn't sure he wanted to walk through the doors. The second he passed through the doors, hand in hand with Hinata, the night would be over. Baa-chan, Shizune-nee-chan and Iruka-sensei would be begging them for details and trying to get Naruto and Hinata to embarrass themselves.
"I hope you had a great night, Hinata-chan." Naruto ended the comfortable silence.
"It… it was wonderful, Naruto-kun. I… I don't think I'll ever forget it." Hinata spoke dreamily. Should I? Can I?
"Awesome!" Naruto was about to say more. He wanted to tell Hinata how grateful he was for agreeing to go on the date with him. Naruto was going to mention how her quiet, pointed looks of disapproval did more to whip him into shape during his lessons than any amount of pummeling from Sakura or Ino could have ever done. There was so much his racing mind was preparing to say.
It all flew out the window the instant Naruto realized Hinata had just kissed his cheek.
"So… did you guys follow Naruto and Hinata around all night too?" Tenten was the first to find her voice when the remainder of the Konoha 11, Konohamaru, Meogi, Hanabi and Udon ran into each other outside of the Hokage's Tower. Everyone either mumbled the affirmative or nodded. The girls migrated towards each other to gossip. Shino and Kiba walked over to Neji.
"Think we'll have to kick Naruto's ass later?" Kiba asked casually.
"I don't think so. Hinata-sama seemed to be genuinely happy. Naruto appeared to treat Hinata-sama with respect and was not forward. No, I don't believe we'll have to kill Naruto." Neji admitted after a moment's thought.
"As long as he treats my teammate with respect and dignity, I have no issue with Naruto-san and Hinata-san pursuing a relationship." Shino stated.
"Know who might have a problem with it though?" Hanabi chimed in from the knot of girls. All conversation stopped. "Otou-sama."
"What do you mean? Why would Hiashi-sama have a problem with it?" Chōji asked between a handful of chips.
"It seems that Naruto failed to secure Hiashi-sama's permission before beginning to court Hinata-sama." Neji revealed to the group.
"Oh no, Hiashi's going to kill Naruto!" Ino cried out in panic.
After a twenty minute interrogation, Tsunade ordered Shizune to escort Hinata back to the Hyūga compound and Iruka to take Naruto home.
"Shizune, if Hiashi says anything, I want you to remind him Hinata completed a B-rank mission. If he has a problem with it, he can bring it up with me!" Tsunade smirked.
Shizune bowed. "Of course, Tsunade-sama."
"Good night, Hinata-chan!" Naruto shouted before Hinata reached the door. The Hyūga heiress waved shyly.
"Good night, Naruto-kun." Hinata said while fighting off a blush. Naruto sighed wistfully as he watched Hinata leave. Tsunade's amused snort brought his attention back to the Hokage.
"What was that all about, baa-chan?"
"Oh, I'm just soooo pleased by how well you did tonight. You had so much fun and were so well behaved." The Slug Sannin bragged.
"You… didn't spy on our date like Kakashi-sensei did?" Naruto almost pleaded.
"Of course not! We, uh, could just tell by how you and Hinata acted when you arrived tonight!" Iruka loudly cut off the Hokage.
"Oh, ok." Naruto accepted Iruka's cover up.
"Alright, brat. Time for you to go home. Iruka-kun, make sure he gets to his house without stopping by the Hyūga compound."
Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but Iruka's sudden grip on his shoulder stopped Naruto in his tracks. The teacher bowed. "I will be happy too, Hokage-sama."
The Academy instructor led Naruto down the stairs. The second the pair exited the Tower, Naruto turned to his father figure. "So… baa-chan got drunk tonight and started calling you Iruka-kun, eh?"
"Not. One. Word." Iruka used his Big Head Genjutsu to erase Naruto's thoughts of pressing the issue.
It didn't stop him from laughing at Iruka's blush.
The sun had no sense of timing. Naruto was firmly convinced the burning orb in the sky lived to taunt him. The blond Genin wordlessly groaned as he rolled out of bed. Naruto went about his morning rituals with the most enthusiasm he had since before the Valley of the End. He felt a phantom pain in the spot where Sasuke's Chidori pierced his chest. Naruto sighed and looked away from the window. His eyes found his way to the closet. The sight of his suit and the memories from his date eased, but didn't quite erase, the pain in his chest.
Naruto worked his way to the roof of his apartment and started his morning warm-ups. In the middle of his one-armed push-ups, Kakashi-sensei arrived.
"Morning, Naruto." The Jonin said idly while flipping the page in his favorite book.
"Good morning, Kakashi-sensei." Naruto said after grunting out the next number in his count. "What's up?"
"Nothing really. The Hokage wants to see you. Something about a possible mission." The Copy Nin waved his hand dismissively. Hatake was grinning behind his mask in anticipation of Naruto's excited outburst.
"We've got a mission! Alright!" Naruto leapt into the air and actually did a quick dance. His instructor's anticipation was not misplaced.
"Actually, Naruto… the mission isn't for Team Seven. You were requested personally."
"Huh?" The boy asked dumbly. "Requested me? Who?"
Kakashi eye smiled as he put away his book. "Well, I guess you'll find out when you get to the Tower."
"Sure thing, thanks Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted as he leapt from building to building.
"Well, if I'm here, I better make sure he doesn't repeat that sour milk mistake…" Hatake Kakashi mumbled as he slipped through the window to Naruto's apartment.
The apartment's owner reached the Hokage's Tower in near record time. I can't believe how quickly I got a mission! I can't wait!
"Morning Hokage-sama!" Naruto practically roared as he came through the window. Tsunade greeted him with a light finger flick, one that only caused a small bruise and didn't send Naruto skidding across the floor.
"One out of two. Hinata, next time you give this brat some lessons; I want you to remind him of the modern and mysterious invention known as a door." Tsuande groaned.
"Yes, Tsunade-shishō." Hinata bowed.
Naruto's face lit up and he forgot all about his bruise. "Good morning Hinata-chan!"
"G…good morning Naruto, kun." Hinata replied.
"You two can catch up later. You all have a briefing." Tsunade snapped. "Take a seat, brat."
Naruto took a seat next to Hinata and finally realized that Shino and Kiba were also present. "Morning Shino, Akamaru, Dog-breath."
Kiba narrowed his eyes and was about to fire off a reply when the Hokage cleared her throat. "I have a C-rank mission for all of you. I am not sure if you are aware, but Shino-kun recently purchased a large section of the forests north of the village. The Aburame have recently brought an item to my attention. Shino, if you could give a quick explanation…"
Shino stood up and faced his comrades. "My Clan has reviewed our extensive records on the region I purchased. Our research postulates that the region is the breeding ground of a rare and incredibly potent species of insect, the Bikōchū. Securing a sample of this breed would provide a strategic resource for the village."
Kiba raised his hand and was acknowledged by both the Hokage and Shino. "Shino, buddy, I know your clan uses bugs extensively to do some really top notch jutsus. I just don't see how one bug breed could be considered a strategic asset."
"Your doubt is understandable, Kiba-san. However, the Bikōchū has incredible tracking abilities. Its sense of smell is almost as acute as one of your clan's ninken."
Kiba scoffed at the idea, but his reply was cut off by the Hokage. "There is more. Jiraiya's intelligence network has recently uncovered evidence that the Kamizuru clan of Iwagakure may have deployed agents to secure the Bikōchū."
The Genin suddenly tensed. Iwagakure was one of Konoha's greatest enemies. Only Otogakure was a more imminent threat.
"Ano, Tsunade-shishō… if Iwagakure has deployed Shinobi, shouldn't this be a B or even A-rank mission?" Hinata asked.
"Normally, yes, this would be a higher ranked mission. However, Jiraiya has not secured any concrete evidence that the Kamizuru have mobilized. Even if the clan did deploy some shinobi, their numbers would be limited. The Kamizuru have only recently recovered from their decimation at the hands of the Aburame clan three decades ago. I have taken precautions, though. You each will be equipped with specialized flares. I have placed two Chunnin squads on standby to deploy in the event the flares are launched." The Fifth Hokage explained.
"That's all well and good, Hokage-sama. But why isn't Shino's clan deploying in strength to protect our territory?" Kiba translated Akamaru's barks and growls.
"My clan cannot deploy in numbers for at least another week. The youngest Aburames are receiving their first colonies and several of our more senior members are bonding with their second or even third colonies." Shino confessed.
"Are there any further questions?" The Slug Sannin asked.
"Just one Tsunade-sama." Naruto piped up. The Hokage flashed Hinata a thumbs up.
"Yes, Naruto?" Tsunade asked.
"When do we leave?"
Author's Notes: And Chapter Six is GO!
A reminder, the section that almost entirely in italics in the scene where Shino and Kiba are keeping an eye on the date is a flashback.
And boy, how much of a shock are Meihui and Kenta in for when they see what Naruto's normally like? :D
Thank you all for the incredible response to the last chapter! I hope this chapter is as entertaining as the last one.
Oh, and an internet cookie to anyone who can guess who Hanabi's channeling in the first scene!