Naruto grinned at the sight of Konoha's walls. The two years of training had passed, and he was back. Not all of him had survived however; Naruto's old orange and blue jumpsuit had been traded for a black and orange suit that had been designed to keep heat while in the cold and cold when in the heat. Jiraiya, Naruto, and Tenzo walked reverently into Konoha. The two guard ninja perked up as the three entered.

"Hey, was that…?" the first said.

"Yeah. No doubt about it," said the second.


"It's been two years," Naruto said as the trio got further into the village.

"Yeah," Jiraiya replied. Naruto gave a large toothy grin and ran toward the center of the village. "He's certainly cheerful today, isn't he?"

"He has a lot of reasons to be happy. He won't have to put up with you for a while," Tenzo teased.

"You wound me," Jiraiya muttered. Further ahead of the Jounin, Naruto leapt up a large pole and glanced about the village.

"Boy, this brings back memories! It hasn't changed at all! I'm home everyone! Naruto Uzumaki has returned to Konohagakure!" the Genin exclaimed. The boy made sure to take everything in. "Hey, they finally added Grandma Tsunade's face up there," he said, pointing to the Hokage Monument.

"Naruto! Naruto is that you?" a girl's voice called up to him. Naruto glanced down and saw Sakura's distinctive pink hair. She looked mostly the same to when he had left, except her pink dress had been discarded in favor of a more form fitting pink outfit. "When did you get back to the village?"

"Just now." Naruto leapt off the pillar and made no noise as he landed. "Long time no see, eh Sakura?"

"Wait a minute, you've gotten taller than me, haven't you?"

Naruto experimentally lifted his hand to his head and checked both their heights. "Yeah, I guess I have."

Sakura smiled at Naruto. "So um, what do you think? Do I look any different now?"

"You kidding? Not really. You haven't changed at all," Naruto said, smiling. Sakura's smile disappeared instantly.

"Smooth, Naruto," a man's voice said. Naruto whirled around and therestood Sasuke Uchiha. He had kept his blue shirt, but two dull, grey shoulder guards had been strapped on and a bandolier with numerous pockets lay across his abdomen going from shoulder to thigh.

"Sasuke! Hey."

The Uchiha smirked and extended a hand to the Uzumaki. "Welcome back, dope."

Naruto grasped the hand and grinned. Sakura looked at her two teammates happily. Team 7 was back, and they might not try to kill each other this time.

"Sasuke, I can totally kick your ass now," Naruto said.

"Heh, really? I've mastered this thing. I can take whatever you dish out," Sasuke said pointing to his now active Mangekyou Sharingan

"Hm? I can do a stronger Rasengan now! And wind jutsu!"

"I still have fire, dope."

"Yeah well, what if we're fighting on a lake? I can swim!"

"You'll have to come up for air or I could just electrocute you." Sasuke stepped back and smirked at the hunched-up and annoyed state Naruto was in.

"Are you three done yet?" Jiraiya asked. "We kinda need to see Tsunade. Operation: Jiraiya isn't over yet."

"Come on Pervy Sage, give me a break huh?"

"Naruto…"

Tenzo laid a hand on Jiraiya's shoulder. "Let them have their reunion, I'll inform Tsunade that he's back."

"Sweet, thanks Tenzo-sensei!" Naruto cried. The three Genin walked away from the men, talking excitedly about their training and life in Konoha.

"This is going to get me in trouble," Jiraiya muttered.

"Don't worry Jiraiya, I'll put in a good word for you. I'll also make sure to leave out all of the times you went to do 'research' instead of train your pupil."

"Hey, you're his 'Tenzo-sensei'."


"So what's happened while I was gone?" Naruto asked his teammates.

"Not much. Everyone in our class has become a Chunin," Sakura said.

Naruto spit-taked. "What! Sakura! Are you a Chunin?"

"Neither of us were promoted. I don't see why I wasn't. You'd think killing an S-ranked missing nin would get you that at least, right?" Sasuke muttered.

"Huh?"

Sasuke smirked. "I killed Orochimaru, no big deal."

Naruto spit-taked again. "What!"

"Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi? The unbeatable techniques?"

Naruto sheepishly rubbed his head. "Oh yeah, that." Naruto paused as he let the Chunin comment sink in properly. "So we're the lowest ranked team from our year?"

Sakura nodded. "Mhm. Neji, Hinata, Temari, and Kankuro did even better. They're Jounin now."

"What about Gaara?"

"He's the Kazekage. Bet he never killed an S-rank missing nin," Sasuke grumbled.

"That's…great," Naruto said smiling. "Well, I'm not about to be outdone by him. I'm still gonna be Hokage one day. Just you wait Gaara!"


The next day, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Jiraiya, Tenzo and Guy stood before Tsunade's desk. The woman glanced at the reports that the teens' respective teachers had written.

"Jiraiya, Tenzo?" The two men straightened. "Do you feel Naruto's training is finished." They nodded. "Guy? Is Sakura's training complete?"

"The Fires of Youth burn brightly in her," Guy said. Tsunade waved her hand, implying she wanted more of an actual answer. "Yes, Hokage."

"Sasuke, I've already gotten Kakashi's report. You pass too." Tsunade smiled. "Before I place you three back on the list of active shinobi, there's someone I want you three to fight. I've kept him off missions so he'd be ready just for this moment.

"Your opponent, will be Kakashi Hatake."

"When will we be fighting him?" Sakura asked.

"As soon as you reach the training grounds. He'll be at number three."


The three Genin glared at Kakashi, their happy meeting of a few moments ago was over as they prepared for Kakashi's challenge. The Jounin brandished two shining bells. "The rules are the same as they were our first day. I don't care how you do it; just get these bells away from me. And remember…"

"If we're not prepared to kill ya…" Naruto said.

"We won't get the bells…" Sakura said.

"And teamwork is essential," Sasuke finished.

Kakashi nodded in approval "I was going easy on you last time. You three have until sunrise to get them." The tension grew between the four ninja. Sakura cracked her knuckles. Sasuke tightened his headband. Naruto got in an advanced taijutsu stance Jiraiya had taught him. Kakashi moved up his headband, revealing Obito's Sharingan. "Well then, shall we get started? Begin."

A gust of wind rattled the bells, and Naruto ran towards Kakashi, hands forming the sign for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. A dozen or so clones appeared next to Naruto, running forward with kunai drawn. Kakashi formed a hand sign. And he disappeared.

"He body flickered," Sasuke declared, stating the obvious.

"How are we supposed to find him now?" Sakura asked.

"Easy," Naruto said. "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!" A small army of clones appeared next to the preexisting ones. "Get going guys, find Kakashi-sensei!" With a unanimous "Yes sir" the clones ran off in separate directions. "As soon as one of them gets dispelled I'll know where Kakashi-sensei is," Naruto explained.

"Pretty smart, for once," Sasuke said.

"Ignoring that, duck-butt." Naruto's eyes flashed. "I got him. He's near a river at the center of the training field. Let's go."

"Wait Naruto," Sasuke said. "We need a strategy. What can you two do now?"

"I can use medical ninjutsu, my taijutsu has improved considerably, and I can open the first two Inner Gates," Sakura said.

"I can make a bigger Rasengan, a Wind style Rasengan, and I've mastered Wind-style techniques," Naruto said.

Sasuke nodded, recalling that swirling ball of chakra Naruto had used in their battle on the hospital roof. All in all, they were well-rounded and Kakashi-sensei would have a hard time keeping up with all three of them. "My taijutsu has improved along with my Fire and Lightning ninjutsu. I have basic genjutsu skills and created a few Lightning-based offensive and defensive moves. Anyone have any ideas?"

"I can keep him occupied with my taijutsu and one of you could knock the bells off of him?" Sakura suggested.

"Wind jutsu is pretty good at cutting; I can cut the bells' strings!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Then you'll have to pick it up," Sasuke said. "I'll keep Kakashi too busy to get them. You're fast, right Naruto?"

Naruto grinned. "Who needs speed when I can be in ten places at once?"

"Good. Let's go then."


Kakashi waited. He had dispersed a single Shadow Clone and he knew the kids were waiting for something. He'd wait until all three attacked him before running off. It wasn't that he was afraid of them, it's just that the mission called for more survival tactics on his part. And if he determined that only one or two were fighting him, he'd knock them out and force the last to try desperate suicide attacks. If they all attacked, he'd just keep up the game of cat and mouse until the time limit expired.

Kakashi lopped a kunai behind him, intercepting a projectile aimed for a vital artery. The only thing that alerted Kakashi to a follow up attack was a shift in the air. Sakura landed next to Kakashi, fists glowing with chakra. Sakura's glowing first and taught muscles told Kakashi all he needed to know. Guy had imparted his strength, and Tsunade her chakra allocating abilities.

"What a wonderful combination," Kakashi thought icily.

The two began fighting, however Kakashi was not fighting as much as dodging everything that came his way.

"Wind Style: Tornado Vortex Jutsu!" Naruto yelled. Sakura departed from the battle as a swirling gale formed at Kakashi's feet, creating miniscule cuts at precise locations that Naruto controlled. Providing equal coverage across Kakashi's entire body, he hoped the Jounin would not notice the cut made to the bell's strings.

He did.

As the bells fell from Kakashi's belt, a substitution replaced the bells with a smoke bomb. And with that, Kakashi was gone.

"Damn it!" Naruto screamed in frustration. "That should've worked."

"Oh, it would've too. If Jiraiya hadn't told me about your training yesterday," a voice said behind Naruto.

The boy turned and Kakashi stood, with the bells grasped firmly in hand. In one smooth motion, Kakashi opened one of the pouches on his flak jacket, placed the bells inside, and shut it.

"I was hoping this wouldn't be an all out brawl," Kakashi said. "But, it looks like you've finally understood what the Shadow Clone Jutsu was made for. The mission has changed. Now you three need to force me to surrender."

"No problem," Naruto said.

"Oh now? Really?" Kakashi's hands sped through hand signs. "Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Naruto's quick reply with a substitution saved him a nasty fiery death.

Naruto and Sakura stood were the Tornado Vortex Jutsu had caught Kakashi. Sasuke was nowhere to be found.

"Pity Sasuke isn't here," Kakashi said. "I thought he figured out that you three couldn't beat me on your own. That lone wolf attitude is going to get him killed."

The chirping of a thousand birds forced Kakashi to move instantly, flipping through more hand signs. "Chidori!" Sasuke and Kakashi yelled at the same time. Their two jutsus collided and nullified each other.

Sasuke back flipped and chucked multiple smoke bombs at Kakashi. Seeing an opening, Sakura jumped to Kakashi's branch and opened the first Inner Gate.

"Primary Lotus!" Sakura roared as she kicked Kakashi into the air. She appeared behind the man and gripped him tightly. They spiraled into the ground and with a loud thud, Sakura jumped from the impact.

A puff of smoke radiated from the crater Sakura had created. An odd black device with seals etched over it sat where Kakashi had hit the ground. "Kunai bomb! Get down!" Sakura said, recognizing the weapon as similar to one Tenten had begun using.

The device exploded, sending shrapnel and sharpened kunai everywhere. Naruto and Sakura dived for the ground. Sasuke stood still. "Chidori Stream!" Tendrils of electricity radiated from his body and knocked the incoming projectiles aside. "Are you two alright?"

Naruto grunted. "Yeah, I guess."

"This isn't working," Sakura mused. "We need to get him out into the open. He'll have less cover that way."

"Or you could just use that fancy Sharingan of yours," Naruto yelled.

"Oh yeah, I could make our sensei catch on unquenchable fire or I could put him into a coma. That'd be perfect for Sensei Appreciation Week."

"Both of you shut up!" Sakura exclaimed. "We need to find Kakashi-sensei."

Both Sasuke and Sakura looked at Naruto impatiently. "Hey, I can't decide when the clones find him." Suddenly Naruto jerked. "He's in a clearing due east."

"An obvious trap," Sasuke muttered.

"What are we going to do then?" Sakura asked.

"Make our own."


Kakashi groaned as he heard Sasuke's Chidori sailing through the trees. His Sharingan worked in overdrive, tracking his pupil's movements. Kakashi lifted an arm, and prepared himself.

As the ball of lightning entered Kakashi's immediate area, he gripped Sasuke's arm, and threw the boy to the ground. Sasuke disappeared in a puff of smoke, but no substituted object lay in his place.

"A Shadow Clone?" Kakashi thought wildly. The screeches of several Chidoris reached Kakashi's ears. "He must have copied it from Naruto." Kakashi pulled a string of ninja wire that lay at his feet, activating the smoke and kunai bombs he had laid about the clearing. Kakashi leapt up and began making hand signs for an area-of-effect ninjutsu that would hopefully catch any clones his trap did not.

At least it would have if Sasuke hadn't dispersed the clones and his Chidori genjutsu and Sakura's chakra-infused fist hadn't smashed into Kakashi's back.

The Jounin sailed off; the surprise attack was quite interesting. It wasn't very damaging but was propelling him at a high rate, probably something Sakura had come up with while experimenting with chakra augmentation. Using slight bursts of wind chakra, Kakashi maneuvered himself to land on his feet a hundred yards away. Hopefully the three Genin did not see his trajectory.

A loud, continuous roar forced Kakashi to turn around. There stood Naruto with a single Shadow Clone at his side. In his hands was a ball of shuriken shaped chakra.

Kakashi's Sharingan stared into the ball of chakra and was unable to see the required flow of chakra to create the jutsu. "What sort of jutsu is that Naruto? My Sharingan isn't reading it quite right."

Naruto grinned his wide and toothy grin. "A completed Rasengan, Wind Style: Rasenshuriken."

"And what do you expect me to do then?"

"Surrender," Sasuke's said. He appeared next to Naruto with three Sasuke Shadow Clones. Sakura came only a second later. Her fists and feet glowed with chakra.

"I can just escape you know," Kakashi said cautiously.

Sasuke smirked. "Look down." And so Kakashi did. Underneath him was a seal etched into the ground. It had summoning seals laid across at regular intervals, kunai from the looks of it.

"That'd be twenty kunai bombs you're standing on, Kakashi-sensei. If you move, I'll turn them on," Sakura said.

"And if you dodge that, I'll just spear you with my Chidori," Sasuke said.

"And if that doesn't work, I'll throw this at you," Naruto said. As a demonstration, two more Naruto clones appeared from the brush and created a Rasenshuriken. One of the clones threw it at a tree far away from the four ninja. Reaching its target, the jutsu exploded sending dirt and wood everywhere.

Everyone, including Sasuke and Sakura looked at the devastation the single attack had caused. "I'll need to call up that 'Pervy Sage' sometime," Sasuke muttered.

"I see… Well then, I only have one option left." Kakashi reached into a pocket on his flack jacket. The Genin tensed, each ready to use their attack if necessary.

Kakashi produced a scroll and pumped chakra into it. A while handkerchief attached to a stick fell out. The Jounin grabbed the stick and waved it meekly. "I give up."

Sasuke smirked. "You can be such a pain."

Kakashi eye smiled. "You three have officially passed my test. Team 7 is now an active team again."

Naruto's yells of excitement reverberated throughout the training grounds. Tonight he'd be taking everyone out for ramen.


Author's Note: Yeah, that whole one or two day thing didn't happen, sorry bout that. Really bad time estimation on my part. Most of that last update was, as I said, proofreading because I failed to notice a lot of things, specifically a 'not' that made it sound like Hiashi wanted Hinata to not get stronger. That has been fixed. And no, I will not get a beta reader. My update/writing schedule is crazy enough as it is and I don't want to complicate it any more than I need to. So yeah, if you guys notice anything really horrible that I have missed in my newer and more intense gauntlet of revisions, please tell me. That'd be awesome.

Anyway, things are a wee bit different now than they are in canon, aren't they? I kept some of the dialogue similar because anything else would be out of character in a way. As soon as I get to the end of the Rescue Gaara Arc, there is really not going to be anything else like that ever again unless in really special cases.

Also, I've gotten two weird timelines to base this off of. I remember some source saying Shippuden is three years after the original series but when I went back and watched the anime I got two and a half years. That's why I made the training take a solid two years, gives me some time to put in a few special chapters before Akatsuki starts the hunt for the jinchuriki. As soon as that is done, we proceed with the Rescue Gaara arc because I'd have to start making up OCs and I'd rather not do to much of that and risk pissing everyone off.

As to when the next update is, your guess is as good as mine. I can say it will be out before the end of May for an absolute fact. Tests and review sessions are going to start taking up a lot of my time. I might be able to get it done in April but I really have no idea. So yeah.