Naruto, slightly tailing behind Sasuke, finally reached the Hokage's office. Sasuke knocked on the door twice and quietly entered the room.

"Excuse us." Sasuke said politely.

"Hey, old bag!" Naruto shouted unceremoniously.

Tsunade twitched. "Shut up brat! You're late damnit! You think you can be the Hokage like that!" She snapped back. That shut him up.

"Didn't have (sniff) to be so (sniff) mean." He fake sniffed.

'Oh, 'Wah', She's right you know, although hypocritical.'

Naruto chuckled. Tsunade quirked an eyebrow, "What's so funny?" She inquired.

"Kyu-chan called you a hypocrite." He relayed, cackling evilly.

"Tell Kyu-chan, that he could have waited to destroy the village." She sneered

"Ack! Oba-chan! That's taboo! It's SHE! She! And she'd rather you not talk about that. She is guilty and trying to cope."

"She? Well, that's a shocker. So, tell us, Naruto. What's it like to have a woman inside you." Kakashi said smugly.

"WHAT!" Team seven screamed. "I can't believe you just said that." Sakura shook her head in disappointment.

"I know the joys of PMSing women now and the men who have to deal with them." He sighed and shivered at the memories.

"Itai!" That one earned him two grand-slam worthy punches from the two women in the room and a mental Bruce Lee kick from Kyuubi in his head.

"Anyway," Tsunade straightened herself out, "I'd like you to meet your client." She gestured to the door behind them as it slowly creaked open. Sasuke got that twisted feeling again as a strange aura emitted from the entering man. Naruto's head started pounding harder and harder as the man approached further.

"Kyu-chan…" He said quietly so no one could hear.

'I know. Keep your distance, I don't like this feeling.' She admitted.

Naruto silently answered by backing several feet away from the Tsunade's desk and to the side of the room where the man would not be in the vicinity of.

"This is Toki Mashima. He is a feudal lord from the Rice Country and he needs an escort for the rest of the walk to the Tea Country for safety reasons." Tsunade explained. "Expect the usual, and the unexpected." She said in that 'encouraging' tone that said 'I know you'll screw up, but good luck anyway'. God how Naruto hated that.

They all got a good look at Toki. He had a full head of Black/Brown hair, which was shocking for someone that appeared to be 50 or 60 years old, and it was pulled back into a long pony tail reaching his shoulder blades. He had a relatively firm face with few wrinkles but crows feet in the corners of his eyes that gave away his age. Mashima-san was a decent six foot, give or take and a medium build. He wore a traditional yukata with dirt stains near the hem and the Obi was crooked, the pattern consisted of white/cream doves on a pale yellow backgrounds and a sun rise at the bottom and a seafoam type green obi. Oddly though, with such a caring face, he gave off an abnormal aura that no one could quite place.

Then, he opened his mouth. "I hope we'll work well together during our trip." It sent cold chills down everyone's spine. It was cool and soothing but at the same time icy and evil, kind of like Itachi's if you want a comparison.

"Of course." Kakashi spoke for the team. "Let start heading out, we have a whole day ahead of us. Meet at the gates in 45 minutes." He ordered.

"Hai." The team answered and scattered to their respective homes. Toki left the building following Kakashi to his home to gather his equipment and traveling gear.

--Time skip—

"Hey guys! Sorry I'm late!" Sakura shouted.

She slowed down as she approached and came to a dead stop to see that somebody beat her there.

"Wow Sakura, even Kakashi got here before you." Naruto snickered and got whacked on the head.

"Let me guess, Iruka threatened to make you sleep on the couch for a month if you didn't get over here?" Naruto asked knowingly.

"How did you-?" Kakashi started with his viable eye wide in shock.

"Please, Gaara hear you in there at night! That's probably why he can't sleep. 'Ruka-sama! Please! Harder!'" He cracked up as Kakashi's face flamed.

"You and Iruka-sensei? Wait…you're uke!" Sakura blurted.

"It's not true!" Kakashi shot back at the pink haired girl.

Naruto is having a giggle fit rolling on the ground. "That's a riot! Ka-chan! Uke! Haha!"

'St-stop, Kit. You're gonna bust a gut. Pfft.' Kyuubi tried to restrain her laughter. 'Ha- have m-mercy on the poor g-guy.'

"A-alright." He eased.

"No seriously though, he's seme all the way. I pity you sensei. If he does do that to you, you can stay with me." Naruto offered,

'I think that was the wrong way to go about it, Kit.'

"Why's that?" Naruto asked and scanned the group. Sakura was slowly getting over the image of Kakashi and Iruka. Kakashi was still fuming at the allegation of him being an uke. Sasuke… "Oh." Naruto understood. Sasuke was fuming, at the statement where that pervert Kakashi staying at his dobe-chan's house where he could be taken advantage of by the notorious sex driven man. Although, Naruto was unaware of said feelings and views, therefore not knowing what was making the Uchiha bothered. "Sasuke, what the matter?" Naruto asked, masking his curiosity and concern.

"Nothing." Sasuke snapped.

"Hey, I just-" Naruto was cut off by that headache again. He whipped around to be face to face with Toki. He started backing up, easing the head ache away with every step.

"Just what?" Toki asked.

"Nothing." Naruto gave in.

'Kit, keep your guard up, this man is giving off something ominous, yet familiar at the same time.'

"Yeah I know, I felt it too." He whispered to himself.

"I see." Toki replied. "Well then, why don't we start on our way?" He requested.

"Let's!" Sakura said in a chipper tune.

"My! Such optimism! Let's be on our way then!" Mashima-san stated. Everyone silently agreed and they began their walk, Naruto straying behind enough to keep the migraine at bay. Something told him that this way going to be a long trip. Little did he know, that he was right.

-At the Hokage's office-

Tsunade was flipping through papers when one caught her attention.

"Shizune!" She shouted, requesting to see her assistant ASAP.

"What is it Hokage-sama!" She questioned.

"We," She started, "have a problem."

TBC…(I forgot to write TBC on a few of the other chapters, Sorry.)

--

Nomi: I'm so sorry it took so long. I've had practice Thursday- Sunday and today I was sick, but I did the best I could. (cough) By the way, I decided to stick with the story basics and not change the fact that Kyuubi attacked the village on purpose, although her heart was changed by our blonde hero. (Imaginary tear)

Mollie: Just hurry up, I must know what happens! What's the problem!

Nomi: You'll find out when everyone else does.

Shizune: You only gave me one line. (sniff)

Nomi: Fine, say whatever you want now.

Shizune: I, uhh… don't know what to say.

Mollie: Exactly, cause Nomi gives you the lines.

Nomi: Anyway…

Both: Ja! R&R Please!