A/N: Hello again! Hope your enjoying this story. It keeps continuing.
A/N: I think Asuma and Kurenai fit for each other. Kurenai herself is too old for Naruto harem if you ask me so I gave her to someone who is known to like her.
Disclaimer: Dont own Naruto
Review please.
Enjoy!
Tenth chapter: First mission in long time
"No thanks." Frog said suddenly after a while.
"What you mean?" Doctor asked surprised.
"I don't read magazines that much." Gamakichi explained while picking his nose.
"It means Im a heart specialist!" Fuuka yelled annoyed.
But frog wasn't listening. It was more interested in fly that was flying over him.
"Don't tell me you are going to catch it with your tongue." Purple haired woman said disgust of idea.
Gamakichi grabbed the little insect with his hand. "Of course not! It would be like hunting a rabbit with bazooka." Then he threw it inside to his mouth and gulped it down "Delicious."
"You mind." Fuuka said looking away.
"Is the fur ball going to be okay?" Gamakichi asked looking at bed. "It would be sooo sad if he died."
Kibi opened his eyes and growled quietly.
"It'll be fine. Id be worried of your master, if you ask me." She said looking at sealing. She leaned back and raised her legs to the table.
"I called him Oyabin (Boss)! He's not my master!" Frog said twitch in his eye. "There's a clear difference."
"Anyhow…" Woman said bored. "His chances of survival are next to nothing. You should start to look for new 'oyabin' just in case."
"Why you say so?" Orange toad asked looking curious.
"I saw his injuries. Only a miracle could save him. No human can stand that level and damage and live to tell about it." Purple haired doctor yawned. "I had hoped that his heart would be in some sort of trouble. I could have chance to show my skills. But then I was thrown out to look after that fox."
Kibi raised weakly looking and shaking but revealed its teeth. Gamakichi stopped him by raising his hand. He was at least angry as fox but didn't show it. "You don't seem that worried." He pointed to the doctor.
"Why should I?" Fuuka asked coldly. "I don't know him. I don't even know his name. Never met him and never will." Then a thought came to her. "I wonder why Hokage-sama acted so… motherly. She even called a Shizune-senpai to work."
Frog and fox looked at each other knowingly. "Who knows." Orange toad muttered. "Anyway, is that fox now ready to go?"
Woman looked boringly at him and then little thing. "Why? You want to eat it or something?"
"Yeeyh!" Gamakichi coughed in turn disgust. "I will take him then," Giant tongue flew through the room and tied little fox's neck.
"Yaaah!" Lady doctor screamed surprised when little fox flew across the room and landed on frogs mouth. Only head was out anymore. And it seemed to be out cold. Pain was too sudden to even for Kyuubi No Kitsune to handle.
"Well… see ya." Gamakichi mumbled fox in his mouth and jumped up and disappeared.
"Crazy." Was only thing Fuuka could say. "Crazy. This whole thing is crazy."
--
Naruto opened his eyes. First thing he could notice that comfortable and cosy bed of hospital room. Next thing he noticed that he was in full body bandages. Next was warm ball over his stomach.
"Yo. Finally waking up I see." He looked to his side. Shikamaru was sitting on a chair. He was wearing his chunin vest. He still holded his hair up making his head resemble a pineapple and looked so bored as always. "You're such a drag. I hear you are back in town and see you first time in hospital." Naruto heard clicking sound and looked over his body. Shikamaru was playing shogi by himself like always.
"Hey, Shikamaru." Naruto said weakly and raised himself to sit. His whole body ached from movement. Kibi was sleeping peacefully in his lap. "Did you happen to see a… giant frog?"
"Yeah. He came yesterday carrying that fox and dropped it to bed and left." Pineapple head answered. "Was that your summon?"
Blond boy nodded weakly. "How many days I've been out?"
"Two only." Boy told him while moving another peace. "I heard something like you had caused little fuss at training grounds." He looked intensively and smiled his slight smile.
Naruto nodded smiling too. "Our training went little bad." He smiled and petted his friend. Fox opened his eyes and yawned.
"Sleeping princess wakes." Kibi looked at him.
"That fox hadn't moved at all for last two days." Shikamaru told him. "And he always growled to everyone who tried to come closer. Nurses and doctors alike."
"Yeah… it does that a lot. Kibi likes to take care of me with his own way. How come you are still here?" Blond boy asked from black haired one.
"Don't know." Shikamaru shrugged. "But its just too much trouble to think so I just enjoy peace here."
Naruto hold out his hand. I was in bandages separating his fingers from others.
"Wanna play shogi?" Shikamaru asked moving board. "Playing alone isn't that much fun. I want to see how much you have evolved during your training?"
Blond boy nodded tired and landed his feet to ground. It heart like hell but he didn't let it show.
'He covers his feelings more now.' Young genius made a mental note.
While playing Black haired chunin realized other thing too. Naruto had gotten smarter. He had expected easy win, maybe some refreshing challenge but soon as Naruto let go of second peace he had to start thinking!
"What happened during these years?" Hospitalized guy started to chatter. He maybe enjoyed shogi, but it was just too… boring.
"Nothing special…" Shikamaru answered. "Chouji grows wider, Ino has turned a total bitch, Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei hit it on.
"Really? Had no idea those two had something in common." Naruto said looking a bit surprised.
"So…" Pineapple head looked at his opponent. "How was the legendary Sannin? Learned any new moves?"
Naruto didn't answer for a while. He had gotten stuck and in game. Then he moved one peace ahead. "You mean Ero-sennin? Sure. Couple moves. But most of my training was based on my charka control."
"Are you still after Sasuke?" Black haired boy asked moving another peace.
"Of course." Blond answered started to think.
"Move chariots three pace forward." Kibi advised him quietly. He had been the one teaching Naruto the ways of the shogi. Boy had been doing great until now. Little advice would not hurt. It would only spice things up and create some drama if lucky.
Naruto did without questioning. "I won. What have you been doing these years? It seems to me like you have starting to get too lazy on yourself."
Door was opened by very angry looking woman. She rushed to them and gazed angrily towards the one sitting on bed. "So… you're wake. Thank you for watching him Shikamaru. You may go now. Shikamaru…"
Ghost-like genius hovered out of room – first into toilet before getting the door right.
"What happened to him?" Tsunade asked looking amazed.
"I guess I broke him." Naruto answered and tried to rise up. Old blond run to him and pushed him hardly down. "You stay in bed!"
"But Im all better already! You don't need to worry about me. Really!"
Tsunades eyes looked suddenly worried. "Naruto, what happened? What caused that explosion? Almost everything at that training ground was destroyed. Only few trees and old training poles."
"What about my clothes?" Naruto asked worried. "I really don't have seconds with me…"
"Clothes can come later!" She snapped to him. "Now you tell me everything I want to know, how that happened?" Hokage took seat to next bed and looked at him.
But everything he could to give her was a shrug. "Don't really know… I used my new sealing technique but at some point… chakra started to fly all around and causing small explosions." Then he remembered. "Do you know anything that happened?" He asked from the fox.
But it only shook his head. "When I get my fifth tail my head goes blank. Next thing I know was when that frog carried us to the hospital."
"Kibi doesn't know either." Naruto translated.
"And you trust him?" Hokage asked looking angry. "To Kyuubi No Kitsune?"
"More than any other." Blond boy answered while hugging the little thing.
Tsunade sighed. "Tell me everything. I mean everything. From day one to last thing you remember."
Naruto coughed. "I was born 10th of October fifteen years ago-" Fist landed to the wall next to him. It made a hole so he could see to his neighbours looking stunned. "Our basic idea was to train until…" He started to explain his story fast.
--
"Hey Shikamaru! Wasup." Asuma Sarutobi asked smoking cigarette between his lips. He looked at his young pupil who didn't answer. "Shikamaru? What has happened."
"Asuma-sensei?" Shikamaru whispered. Then he stood up. "Lets play shogi! Now!"
"What?" Asuma asked surprised. "Shogi?"
"Please! Its important! I can't be that stupid. Something must have happened." Shikamaru muttered while pulling his sensei to nearest shogi table.
--
"And then I went out." Naruto ended his story. "Next thing I know is that Shikamaru is sitting in a chair next to me."
Tsunade had heard and registered every single detail. She stood up and walked over to window. "I have not much experience on seals. That was always Jirayas art." She looked worried. "So I don't know what that means. But I can tell that isn't anything good." She turned around. "Naruto, I will order you not to use higher tail numbers at all. Not until you have been fully inspected by that pervert."
"Ero-sennin? But who knows when he's back." Blond boy said looking annoyed. "Kibi is a great part of my fighting style. I can't work fully without it."
"Im not asking you to stop using it." Woman said. "Im only forbidding you to give any more power. You said it can transform one time by itself?"
Naruto nodded.
"So we understand each other?"
He nodded. "So, Im off now." Tsunade walked to door. "You will stay in hospital until I say so. No objections. I will have a nurse visiting every four minutes." She raised her fingers up. "If I get call from them…" She didn't finish her sentence. Only closed the door behind her.
"Cranky as ever." Naruto sighed and lied down. Suddenly there was knock on the door.
"Come in." He said wondering who might be coming. Lady doctor wearing her white coat with purple hair entered room. Naruto couldn't remember her being around last time. She must be new. "Hello. So… you are doing tours today?"
She didn't answer. Only walked to him and started to examine him. "Amazing!" Was only she could whisper. "You should be dead!"
Boy felt like something hitting him. "That's not very nice." He tried to smile.
"Shut up!" Fuuka said swiftly and continued examining him. "Ribs are almost completely healed… burns left only 35... Scar from surgery… healed nearly completely." She stood back. "I've never seen such an interesting specimen.
"Excuse me…miss?" Blond boy tried to stop her but she only raised her hand.
"Im doctor, you are a patient. No further introduction needed."
"But- What are you doing with that scalpel!?" Naruto felt sudden danger around him.
She looked annoyed. "If you must know, Im doing some research. Now be quiet so I can look inside you."
"What? Hey! Wait-!"
"Doctor Sano! What are you doing!?" Nurse in her pink outfit entered room looking horrified. Naruto felt relieved of another person to show up. "Didn't Hokage-sama reminded you never again doing you 'research' with living patients?" Purple haired woman looked angry but put her scalpel back inside her robe.
"I didn't do anything yet." She sulked.
"And you better not!" Nurse shouted angry. "He's one of greatest ninja of the village and is under direct care of Hokage-sama!" She smiled quickly to him who blushed of all compliments.
"Like I care." Doctor said looking away.
"But we do! And if we found out he has even little scratch on him, you can bet your small ass that Hokage-sama will hear it and kick your ass. That is… if there's anything left from us. And you remember what happened last time?"
Fuuka paled little. She run out but gave last glance to Naruto. Looked said clearly: 'This inst over' That made him very uneasy.
Nurse looked after her but quickly turned and smiled at him widely. "If you need anything we are ready to help to the last. Just press that little button on next to you. We will helpwith everything." She winked quickly and closed the door.
Naruto wasn't sure witch was scarier. Nurse or a doctor.
--
"So that how it was…" Asuma grinned after Shikamaru had explained. He tried all his might not to laugh. But he failed. "You lost in shogi to Naruto!" He laughed and kept hitting his leg.
"Its not funny." Shikamaru looked away. "But he has changed more than just grow some height."'
"What you mean?" Smoking man asked.
Black haired boy made a circle with his fingers. "Don't know. Gosh. This so troublesome. I always thought Naruto as complete idiot. Now after few years of training he has won me in shogi. I have to think about it."
"But first… could you move a piece. I have a date tonight." Asuma said looking at his watch.
"Date? Such a drag. I cant imagining myself spending time with some women all day just so we can look each other." He moved piece.
Smoking man blow out great cloud with a sigh. "I had hopped that you could have gotten over that attitude of yours. When you hit your puppetry." Then a thought came to him. 'I need somehow make him more social or he will never change. Maybe a blind date? Could it work?'
"Asuma-sensei. You are thinking something devious aren't you?" Chunin asked from his jonin instructor.
--
Naruto concentrated and molded some chakra to his left hand. Bright blue ball was flooding over his hand.
"You are using it too much!" Kibi barked angrily. "And the shape is all wrong! Are you trying to make me angry?"
"I don't need to try." He muttered himself and did as he was told. Ball started to change shape. It was divided to eight slices.
"You are still using too much of it!" Kibi sighed. They were still in hospital but Naruto had already undone all his bandages. His clothes had been in the room all the time so he had dressed them on. It had been interesting in hospital. In a way. Tsunades ordered 'observations' were so regular that he expected Baa-chans orders been strict. Kibi gave out a sigh when he mention this to him. And it was nice training to avoid that crazy doctor who was interested in him like hungry cat. You could drive her away but she only returned claws sharpened. Or knives in this case.
But he had enough of it all after two days.
In darkness of night he sealed door to the room with a paper seal and run away from window. Kibi was lying over his shoulders. His could hear nurse struggling with door. Fox looked over his shoulder.
"I only have about five minutes before Baa-chan hears of this…" He stopped like had just run to the wall.
"What?" Kibi asked. "Keep moving or…"
"Naruto." Tsunade was sitting on roof in front of him and drinking sake. "You really make me sad."
"Really?" Blond boy asked. "How did you-"
"Know you were leaving tonight?" Old blond asked amused. "Naruto… no matter how you grow, changes clothes or even how you act. You will always be that little annoying brat in orange jumpsuit." She smirked and looked at moon. "Want some?"
Naruto sit down next to her and took a bottle. Kibi jumped to his lap and rolled to a ball.
"I was expecting a beating." He said looking at moon.
"I was considering it." She answered.
--
Next day at assignment office Naruto was standing holding a piece of paper. "B-rank mission?" He looked to woman. "Are you serious?"
"You were expecting a… double S-rank mission involving Akatsuki, Sasuke and Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked looking angry. She had hoped that Naruto at least had grown up enough to accept mission when given.
"There is one? Okay. I take it." Naruto offered paper back. Kibi laughed. "I know double S is bit hard but-"
"Naruto!" Iruka yelled angry. "Have you grown up at all?" His scar looked ugly as always.
"No humour at all." Blond boy whispered while looking again piece of paper. "But this mission is simple enough to some rookie genin."
All eyes looked at him intensely. "And I know Im a genin but are you sure, you want send me to some bodyguard mission? Who is this guy anyway?"
"Name is Shiro Toujiro. And Im not a guy." Angry looking young woman with short pure white hair entered room. She wore black t shirt emphasised her white hair and little pale skin. In her left arm there was black flame tattoos. She wore short schoolgirl-style skirt. She had covered her hands with black leather gloves. "What is this?" She walked to him and watched up and down. "I asked a ninja. Not some pretty boy with a pet!"
Naruto looked away after to comment so she wouldn't see him blushing. He could feel others laughing in secret. 'What is this? She probably only joking around! Get yourself together, Naruto-sama!' "Well… if it makes you feel any better, you are a beautiful yourself." He smiled to him politely.
Everyone else in the room started to grin. Expect that white haired girl. She blushed hard and grinned angry and started to shout. "What is this? I want some other ninja! Some who is capable of protecting me!"
Weird feeling run trough Hokages chest when she looked at the two of them. She shook it off. "Shiro-san, I know that Naruto here doesn't look like much. But I can sure you, he is one of the best shinobi in this village."
"Then why is he still only a genin?" White haired girl asked looking at him. "I heard himself saying that."
Naruto started to explain. "That's because I think its useless to take chunin exams-" He stooped when large killing intent emerged inside that room. "Anyway, Shiro-chan-" White haired girl hit him to face sending him flying to his back.
"Don't call me 'chan' asshole!" Were her last words before she stormed out of the room.
Tsunade sighed. "I guess youre right. This mission is not for you. Shizune, give some other mission to him. Some other B-rank if there is."
"I guess Narutos personality just doesn't match up with everyone." Iruka sighed scratching his scar.
"Wait!" Naruto stopped them rubbing his face. "I will take this one."
"What?" Tsunade looked at him. "But you didn't want this one?" Her eyes narrowed. "Did it change when you find out customer was a girl?"
"I wasn't ever actually declined from this mission." Blond boy rose. "I was only making a note that some other mission could be better." He picked paper up. "So… why does she need a security around her?"
Tsunades eyes narrowed. "Naruto… you are making me feel two things."
"Huh?" Blond boy looked back up.
"Either very proud." Old blond said. "Or very terrified."
"Terrified? Of what?" Naruto asked gulping suddenly.
"That you have become full apprentice of that hentai Jiraya." Hokage said after a minute.
"That's not it!" Blond boy yelled. "Im curious. Why is she targeted? Even though I can understand killers reason. That personality…"
"Hokage-sama-" Iruka spoke up. "I think we should give this one to Naruto. It should be no problem to him. He will need to adjust himself to missions and I believe this would work just fine."
"Thanks, Iruka-sensei." Naruto smiled.
"And we don't have any other suitable missions. Not at least B-ranking ones." Shizune added worriedly. "Only remaining solo missions are either A or S. All others require a team."
"Looks like you win today, Naruto." Hokage answered sighing. "But if I hear even one complaint of perverted acts, you will suffer like all perverts do when comforting me."
"Don't worry. I heard the story of Ero-sennins near-death-experience." He smiled. "And don't worry yourself. I promise that any of my perverted acts will ever reach your ears."
Silence fell around them when everyone looked at him for a moment.
"Wait!" Naruto started to correct himself. "That didn't come out right!"
"Anyway!" Tsunade yelled over him. "Shiro or to be correct, Hanashiro Youjiro, is heiress of Youjiro clan."
"Youjiro clan? That great civilian clan that resides inside Konoha?" Naruto asked looking at her.
Blond woman nodded. "There has been already several attempts on her life. Started a week ago. First one was at the restaurant where she works. While she was cleaning kitchen after work, fire started almost killing her. She got away unharmed. Second one was at her home. Gas pipe explosion. Again unharmed. Third one was at festival, loose cart almost crushed her."
"Those sound more like unlucky accidents than assassin attempts to me." Boy looked confused.
"We thought so too until she told about fourth incident. When a robber appeared he first told her to give all her money and jewellery. She threw her wallet to his feet but he ignored it. He only charged forward holding a knife." On of assistants read the report. "Luckily she was able to fight robber of until a civilian police officer arrived at seen and robber escaped without any more clues."
"That does sound fishy." Naruto nodded. "Is there anymore things I should know?"
"Yes, she has disowned her family name half a year ago and lives now on little village outside of Konoha." Another assistant explained.
"So… my job is…?"
"To follow her 247 until the attacker is found and the reason behind it." Tsunade cut chase short. "Until now we have used ANBU units to patrol but we are afraid that she will need more protection."
"Leave it to me." Naruto nodded. "By the way, who conducts the investigation?"
"Me." Shikamarus voice appeared behind him. He had just entered the room. "Hey Naruto. Nice to see you finally out."
"Thanks. So you will do Shiro-chans investigations." Blond boy asked.
Another boy nodded.
"You will be in one team even though you work separately." Tsunade told them. "While Naruto protects her, Shikamaru will dig around and find anything useful. Naruto, because both her work and home have been destroyed, she must live with you until then. Can you do that, without molesting her?"
"You know, Baa-chan your jokes sometimes hurt really much." Naruto looked at her angry.
"Naruto…" Old blond started again her eye twitching.
"Okay okay okay! Its not a problem." He said looking away. "Was everything here or…"
"I will come by and ask her some questions later on." Shikamaru explained his hands inside pockets. "So stay on sight please. It would be too troublesome to look around for you."
"I guess I take my leave now then." Naruto waved his hand. "Shikamaru, lets finish this quickly so we can enjoy another game of shogi."
Black haired boy went suddenly plank and pale when blond boy stood out from office leaving ghost-like Shikamaru with Hokage and her assistants.
"So… this is Hanashiro Youjiro." Blond boy started looking serious. His hair run wildly in the wind. He had removed his headband. "Looks like easy case to me."
Kibi yawned. "This is a waste of our time. Why did you excepted this one so easily? Or do you like girls with spice in them?"
"Maybe." Naruto smirked quickly. "But anyway, Im little bored and this seems nice entertaining."
"Your calling me an 'entertaining', Asshole!?" White haired girl stood in front of them. "I thought I said; I wanted a real ninja!"
Narutos eye twitched. "Im a real ninja, believe me." He hold out his hand to shake hers. "We had rough start so lets try again. Im Uzumaki Naruto and ill be your bodyguard for next few days. Yoroshiku."
But Shiro only look away angry. "I want to make few things clear, I don't want you in my face. If you have to protect me, do it behind me. Don't bother me or anyone I speak to, don't start tasting my food or anything and IM NOT MOVING BACK AT MY PARENTS!!"
Blond boy stood back. "Okay… I have no idea what you meant by that but okay." Then he smiled. "But I will make few things straight, I didn't ask for this mission. It was given to me."
"Bullshit!" Kibi shouted even no one else understood. "Pervert! Pervert! Blond pervert here! Sound the pervert alert!"
"Shut up." Naruto looked annoyed. "I protect you with my own way. If you don't like it, I can always tie you up and carry where I like it." He smiled kindly. "So, would you like to be carried or walk?"
Shiro looked away angry and started to walk. Naruto sighed and followed her downstairs.
--
Tsunade was looking at distancing figures weird feeling over her.
"Tsunade-sama." Shikamaru coughed after recovering. "I think you should know something I already know about this case."
Old blond turned around and looked at him. "Yes?"
"I heard a rumours that Shiro-san has many times been asked to return back to his family." He explained lazily. "I also know that she was engaged just before leaving the family."
Tsunade thought it for a moment. "Is that all you have?"
"So far, yeah." Shikamaru nodded. "But I do consider placing more guards than just one."
Old blond sighed. "I can't do that. All genin teams have already on move and I have a pile of missions to hand out before end of the day. I could only give this to you because you need to stay in village to prepare for chunin exams."
Shikamaru sighed.
"Don't say word 'drag' again." Tsunade warned him.
"What about Naruto? Will he be entering to the exams?" Black haired boy asked.
At the same time two voices said: "Yes." and "No." Everyone looked around to see Kakashi sitting in corner reading his book.
"What you mean 'no'? How long have you been there?" Tsunade demanded from white haired jonin.
"Five pages." He answered. He used his own clock system where time was divided between books, chapters, pages, lines, words and letters. And this made everyone very annoyed. "He self said so. And I have to agree, 'Nibansannin' sound a lot better title than chunin."
"Nibansannin?" Everyone asked together. "What's that?"
"He didn't tell you? Its his own made title for him, Sasuke and Sakura." One eyed man answered.
"He thinks them as 'second three people?" Tsunade asked angry. "Who that brat think he is?!"
"I think the title is very fitting." Kakashi cut her off.
"Why?"
"Think about it? Sasuke is apprentice of Orochimaru." Names made everyone inside room to harden their expressions. "Sakura is yours. And Naruto is apprentice of Jirayas."
"But you are forgetting that there has been other ninjas before them! Like Yondaime, Anko and me!" Shizune yelled angry while holding Tonton who was equally angry. "Or are you saying we weren't good enough?"
"Minato-sensei if someone would have deserved that title." Kakashi admitted remembering his old teacher. "But none of you had the same jonin instructor like the Sannin had Sandaime. Or Nibansannin had me."
Everyone looked at him amazed.
"And those three are bound to be known. I can tell." White haired man smiled under his mask.
"So he won you over by using your vanity, huh?" Tsunade looked very angry. Blood vessels on her forehead looked like they were ready to explode. "That doesn't have anything to do with chunin exams!"
"Nothing really. But this way you can give him a chance to gain something by himself rather than you placing them to his hand." Jonin pointed out.
He had made a point. Tsunade had to admit it She sighed. "What else can I do? Others must recognise him before we can usefully use him."
"That's your problem." Kakashi said hastily. "I was just dropping by to ask some work."
Tsunades look made him gulp.
"I think I come back another time." And with that he disappeared.