Disc lamer- I don't own naruto or its characters
Chapter 9- Day off
Sarutobi smiled as he looked over his grandson, and his team. He had read the report in full, wondering just how is grandson had done in his first real ninja mission. He was not a bit surprised though, that he was able to handle the mission so well, and perform so admirably. He was also glad to see, that he was on a team where he could do his best, and where his teammates would cause him to improve.
"Is there anything you three wish to put in to the report before I close it for good?" Sarutobi asked looking over at the group, and then to Yamato.
"No, the report presented to you was the full and complete report of the actions that took place on the mission," Yamato replied in a calm professional tone.
"Well, good, you may take your leave," Sarutobi said before thinking of something, "If I were you I would train really hard the next month, because the Chunin exam is next month and a report like this makes me think it would be best to let your team enter."
As the last statement came out of the hokage's mouth, Ino, Kiba, and Naruto's faces all brightened up at the thought. Naruto smiled the brightest, thinking about how this exam could be a stepping stone to becoming a better shinobi, then his father and grandfather. Plus it could allow him to get closer to there ranks, and would show his improvement.
"Then I will make sure that this team does not slack off any, for the rest of this month," Yamato said in his normal calm tone.
"Good your are dismissed then," Sarutobi replied with a small smile on his face.
Short after the group was dismissed, they stopped at the exit of the building.
"Well, I guess this is it for now, this mission was a lot of well… fun," Ino said looking at Kiba, and Naruto, "I promised my parents, I would help them at the shop today."
"Well same here, I have to go help my mother, and sister at the vets," Kiba said with a smirk, "How about you Naruto, what are you getting to do on your so called day off, help Asuma with a class."
"Nope, I am going to go eat rammen for lunch, and then find Asuma after school is done for him, and work on learning how to use these trench knifes better," Naruto said thinking a second, "Hey why don't we all go off to get some rammen later, I am sure I can talk Asuma into paying for all of us."
"Sure, how about around 7ish," Ino said with a nod, part of her still amazed that she could get along well with Naruto.
"Yeah, sounds good to me," Kiba said with Akamaru barking happily as well.
Yamato smiled at his team as they went their different ways, who could of figured that they would get along so well so quickly. It would seem that the foolish move Ino made, actually turned out to be a heck of a good one, as far as building team work, and getting her to trust the other two. Plus he was sure that the interrogation team was getting all the information they wanted out of that mist shinobi, they captured. Might as well go get something to eat, he reasoned with himself as he walked off.
At the flower shop, Ino quickly went to work organizing the new shipments, that had came in, and recognizing where her parents had decided to place the new things, or move the old stuff. Seemed that things were for the most part though, the same as ever in the flower shop.
"Hey Ino Pig," a familiar annoying voice yelled from the entrance from the store.
"Yes, billboard, what do you want?" Ino replied without looking to confirm who had just walked into the shop.
"Nothing just wondering how you and that team of your did on its mission," Sakura said with a smirk, "My team also just finished our first b rank mission."
Ino looked up at Sakura, "So you came here for that information, you must really have nothing else to do. The team, and I did very well on our mission, we were able to do everything we need to do, and defeat a large number of bandits. Plus I was able to help out on the mission a lot with my skills."
"Well, that is good and all, but I did almost everything for my team. In fact if it was not for me, I am sure that none of us would of returned at all. I am sure that Sasuke is going to fall for me, right when he hears about my great accomplishments. Sorry, you just don't have a chance against me Ino Pig, Sasuke is mine," Sakura replied in a arrogant tone, "In fact, I think I am going to go find him right now, and tell him the good news."
Ino stopped for a second and watched as Sakura left the shop. Wow, what a arrogant blow hard, how can someone be so full of themselves. Ino then took a deep breath, realizing that when it came to this matter of sasuke, she was in fact just acting the same as Sakura. No wonder, the other two seemed to look down on her a bit at the start when they became a team. How would that act even when over a guy, and if it did was that guy even really worth it, especially when he was not the only preverbal fish in the sea. Ino came to a realization, that that type of act just seemed really stupid now.
Across town, Yamato walked into the Jounin lounge, it was the place set aside for the jounin when they were on break. The idea being that if you gathered all of the jounin in one place, they would get along better, and share ideas about how to be a better shinobi. Yamato noticed, that the place was pretty empty, mostly because many teams were still out on mission at different place, but he did notice, that Kakashi, and Kurenai where both there. Which meant the two teams with the most connections to his own were represented. Yamato took a seat by the two, he noticed Kakashi was reading his special book, and Kurenai was looking out the window towards the academy.
"Well, I heard that you have a heck of a team. From the sound of things, your team did a heck of a job on a number of bandits over by rain nation." Kakashi said without looking down from his book.
"Yep, they have shown a lot of promise. Each of them, they are a well balanced team, and work well together, I can see without a doubt that they will do well," Yamato replied proudly, "I heard that your teams also have seen some action."
"Yep," Kakashi said with a simple tone, "They did good, ran into some problems in wave country, but Shino, and Sasuke are both very strong, and Hinata has potential once she gets past her confidence problems."
"Um, Kurenai, how did your team," Yamato said waving a hand in front of her face.
"Oh sorry, what did you say," Kurenai said turning to look at him.
"Don't mind her, her mind is stuck on a certain jounin who is still at work," Kakashi said with a evil look in his eye.
"Yeah whatever, just letting my mind wonder," Kurenai replied trying to hide the blush on her face.
"Anyway, so how did your team do," Yamato repeated, deciding it was best to change the subject.
"Well, they did ok, still they are a challenge a gluten, a lazy bum, and a loud girl. It can be a challenge, but they all have there own skills, which make them work somehow," Kurenai said with a sight, "How is Naruto doing"
"Well, the kids is doing great, I can tell, that Asuma has been working with him. I think he could turn out to be the leader of the team," Yamato replied quietly.
"Well, good, I am sure Asuma will be glad to know about that," Kurenai replied with a smile.
Over at the vets office, Kiba worked quietly, as the day passed, his family had some how decided to go on a trip, and didn't tell him about it. Which meant he was there alone to take in the animals and do basic stuff to help out the animals, until his family got back, which he hoped would before 7. So he could go and eat with his friends.
"Well, little brother, how was the mission," Kiba looked up to see that Hana had walked into the office.
"Well, it was good, thanks, apparently we did a good job, and the hokage recommended us for the chunin exam," Kiba said with a smile.
"Good, that means you better work harder with Akamaru over the next month," Hana said with a smirk, "Which means you will get to help me around here even more then normal. Anyway, I will take over, you can go run and play, or do what ever boys your age do."
Asuma walked down to training field number 11, the one where he always would find Naruto, and there he was. Hitting one of the blocks with a variety of different punches and kicks.
"Hey kid, heard that you passed the first mission with flying colors," Asuma yelled down to him.
Naruto stopped and turned to the direction that Asuma was walking from, "Yeah, it was great, we took down a whole bunch of these bandits. You would not believe just how great my team was."
"Good, glad to see that you are not to full of yourself to stop you trainning. That is a mistake I see from a large amount of young shinobi these days, and it always costs them a lot in the end," Asuma said look at Naruto.
"Well, actually I have a favor to ask of you," Naruto said in sincere tone, "I didn't use the trench knifes on the mission because I don't feel comfortable with them yet. I was wondering if you could help be get better with them."
"Of course, I can, but it is going to take a lot of hard work, so you are going to have to make sure you up to it," Asuma asked taking his hands out of his pockets.
"Yeah no problem, oh and I need you to give me some money to pay dinner tonight," Naruto added with a sneaky smile.
At around 7 o'clock all three of the shinobi had found there way to the Ichiraku Raman Bar.
"Hey, what ups?" Kiba said as he noticed Ino and Naruto walking towards him from different directions.
"Not to much, it has been a nice day, got some nice father son training in, how about you two," naruto said as he sat down next to Kiba.
"Well, had some work at the vet, but the rest of the day, I ran around with Akamaru, and had a lot of fun, you Ino?" Kiba said turning towards Ino.
"Well, just same old same old, getting to work at the shop, and having to deal with an annoying Sakura as well," Ino said sitting down next to Naruto, "So did you manage to get the money from Asuma to pay for this meal?"
"Yeah of course," Naruto said with a smile, "It was not a problem at all, actually he said it was fitting for us to go out and eat as a team, because it would build our teamwork."
"Yeah, that sound about right, I am glad you decided to do this, I am sure if you don't mind if I join," Yamato said walking up.
"Of course not," Naruto replied, "It would be great."
"Yeah, I agree," Kiba agreed, as Ino also smiled showing Yamato he was welcome.
"Good, we can go over the training work for the next month, we are going to have to do a lot of work, if you three want to become Chunin at this exam," he said with a smile.
A/N- I hope you liked that chapter, I am going to put some thought about the possibility of pairings, if you want to put in you two cents your welcome too. I still will make the final decisions, but I have an open mind, and will think about what you put down in the reviews. Also thanks for the reviews, from everyone who has send one in.
