As the meeting breaks up, Hiashi stops Naruto. "Is Fu of the Hidden Waterfall here?" he asks.
"Yeah, why?" says Naruto, looking a little confused.
"Take me to her," orders Hiashi.
"Um, okay," agrees Naruto, a little reluctantly. He leads Hiashi to where the rest of the JUC is playing a board game that looks suspiciously like Snakes and Ladders. There is only one girl there, and Hiashi guesses that she is Fu.
The girl jumps up and shouts, "FU WON! Fu gets to throw a shaving cream pie at Roshi san!"
"What is going on here?" asks Hiashi.
"Oh, we were just playing Snakes and Ladders," says Naruto. "The winner of each round gets to throw a shaving cream pie at Roshi."
"Why, what did Roshi do?" asks Hiashi, frowning. He wonders if his kids would enjoy throwing shaving cream pies at their grandfather.
"Roshi broke the club rule stating that you must always refer to your bijuu by their name," says Naruto. "We gave him three warnings, but he insisted on breaking the rule. This is standard club punishement. It will not stop until Roshi repents and calls Son Goku by his name."
Fu grabs a pie from the pile of pre-prepared stack of shaving cream pies. She throws it hard and true, sending it into Roshi's face with a smack. Roshi is currently tied to a chair with a scowl on his face and the remains of three other shaving cream pies on his face and body.
Fu seems like a nice girl, thinks Hiashi approvingly. And a good kunoichi, too.
Gaara appears and sits down with the other JUC members. "Has he relented yet?" Gaara asks. "I have not had a go at throwing a pie at him yet."
Roshi just glares at the rest of the JUC.
"Well I guess that means we can have another game of Snakes and Ladders!" says Naruto, sliding down next to the board. "I'm the orange piece! Oh, yeah, Fu; Hiashi sama wants to talk to you about something."
"Hiashi sama?" Fu asks, looking at Hiashi curiously.
"Hello Fu," says Hiashi. "I have a letter here for you. It is from my nephew Neji."
"You are Neji's uncle?" says Fu, bounding forward and grabbing Hiashi's hand. "Neji saved Fu! Neji is amazing! Will you be Fu's friend?"
Hiashi considers the hopeful girl for a moment then says, "Yes, and you have my permission to date my nephew." He hands Fu the letter.
Fu takes the letter and reads it, then blushes in a way that is worthy of a Hyuuga.
"What does it say, 'ttebayo?" asks Naruto.
"Neji wants to go on a date with Fu," says Fu. "Neji likes Fu too."
"See, I told you!" says Naruto.
"Hush Naruto, or I'll make my father chaperone your next date with Hinata," says Hiashi, not that he would put Hinata through that, but it shut up Naruto. Hiashi turns to Fu. "Now, Fu, do you accept Neji's invitation?"
"Yes!" say Fu, hugging the letter to her chest.
"Then could you come with me back to the Hidden Leaf for this date after I have gotten what the Raikage promised me in the meeting?"
"Fu will need permission from her village leader," says Fu.
"Then go ask him," says Hiashi. "He's here for the meeting."
"Okay!" Fu runs off to find her village leader. Hiashi follows at a more sedate pace to make sure Fu get permission to go to the Leaf to meet Neji.
Hiashi catches up to Fu only to find her close to tears as the young leader of the Hidden Waterfall explains to her why she cannot go to the Leaf. Something about her being away too long, or whatever.
"Shibuki sama, might I have a word?" says Hiashi.
The young leader of the Hidden Waterfall turns to look at Hiashi. "Yes?" he asks.
"My sources tell me you know the Leaf village's Team Seven?"
"Um, yes, they saved my village," says Shibuki. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, how would you like a chance to see the Hidden Leaf and catch up with Team Seven?" says Hiashi. "I will, of course, host you myself."
"What's the catch?" asks Shibuki suspiciously.
"Fu comes to the Leaf too," says Hiashi.
Fu smiles at Hiashi in excitement.
Shibuki considers this for a few moments. He looks very tempted.
"It will only be for a few days, and I will personally lead your escort home," says Hiashi.
"Alright," says Shibuki. "I suppose that arrangement will be okay."
"YAY!" Fu jumps into the air in excitement. "Fu is going on a DATE!"
"WHAT? You never said anything about a date!" says Shibuki, looking for all the world like he is about to panic. "Who with?"
"My nephew," says Hiashi.
Nagato smiles happily at the Raikage. "So do you think you will be able to take Naruto to the Island of truth on your way back, then?"
"Yes," says A. "But that means their guards will need to be people we brought with us. Motoi," he addresses the Cloud ninja who identified Naruto as the Orange Terror. "You are going to be part of the guard detail."
"Yes, lord Raikage!" Motoi doesn't seem overly happy about that, though.
"I'll stand in for the Leaf," volunteers Asuma, the other guard that Tsunade brought. "My team will be fine under Shikamaru's watch for a while."
"So that just leaves the Akatsuki members," says Nagato. "Luckily, Hidan and Kakazu are nearby. Kakazu smelled money and came to collect a bounty."
"Right," says A, nodding. "We can leave as soon as they get here."
"Just one question," says Nagato. "How much are we going to pay the protection detail?"
"Ah well, that is a good question." A considers this for a few minutes. "I guess standard fees for an A Rank will do."
"Make that the highest standard A rank fees," says Tsunade. "We need to keep Kakazu happy and paid."
"Did somebody say something about paying me?" asks Kakazu, appearing in the room with Hidan under his arm.
"Yes," says Nagato. "You and Hidan are to partner with Motoi and Asuma - no collecting bounties! - and guard Naruto and Killer B while they train at the Waterfall of Truth. Put Hidan down before he tries to sacrifice you to Jashin."
Omake
Steve Irwin.
We have reached the 30 followers and the 30 reviews mark! (And still no one has guessed who won that card game. Hopefully the next challenge will prove easier.)
When Sakura decided to throw a birthday party, she did not take into consideration just how stupid her teammates are.
She invited all the other genin from her graduating class, namely teams ten and eight, and she also invited Team Gai, Shin, Sai and the Sand Siblings. And Fu. Mustn't forget Fu. After all she is in the corner over there chatting with Neji a little too happily.
The party is a dress-up party, but not everyone came in good costumes. Lee insists he is dressed up, but since he dressed up as Gai-sensei, he might as well have not bothered. Naruto for once actually came in sensible clothing. He is dressed as a pirate, and despite the fact that Kurama is sitting on Naruto's shoulder pretending to be his parrot, Naruto doesn't look outrageous.
Before Fu turned up, Neji had looked as miserable as a wet cat. The reason being that Tenten and Hinata forced him into a Kimono and turned him into a prettier geisha girl than Sakura has ever seen before.
Tenten is dressed up as Lady Tsunade; she even found an over-sized bra and stuffed it to bursting to make her chest look bigger.
Ino dressed up as Sailor Moon, and Sakura is surprised by how well the outfit works.
But it is Sasuke who really stands out.
He is dressed entirely in red, and has dyed his hair leaf-green.
When Sakura asked him what he was supposed to be, he answered, "I'm a tomato, obviously."
AN: Omake dedication for the person who figures out what Sakura dressed up as. (If no one gets this I am going to face-wall.)