The rest of the mission had been rather uneventful. Neji managed to find the traps surrounding the hidden bells and Naruto in turn destroyed the traps one by one. Within the hour Neji and Naruto had returned to the training grounds. Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura were all present when they returned.
Naruto showed Kakashi the bells.
The white haired man held out his hand to receive the item. "Any problems?" He asked.
"Not one." Naruto replied.
"I trust Sasuke and Sakura have already passed on the details of the mission to you." Neji added.
Naruto gave Neji a confused look.
Kakashi in turn chuckled. "Nothing gets by the byakugan, does it?"
Sasuke's hateful gaze was now focused on Neji.
"When did you notice us?" Sakura asked confused. "I thought we were out of range of your byakugan."
"Through training I've managed to extend the range of my byakugan slightly. That is how I managed to spot you just as you backed away from us." Neji explained.
While Naruto listened to Neji she allowed her gaze to wonder over to Sasuke. Sasuke in turn looked back at her. It was the first time since Naruto had returned to Sasuke did not look at her with hate in his eyes. She gave him a defiant smile, glad to see that things were somewhat back to normal.
"In two weeks time we will be traveling to the Land of Iron." Kakashi declared.
"So that's where the mission will be?" Naruto asked.
"That's right. There will be a important meeting there between leaders of most of the countries. Our team will be present to provide protection during this meeting." Kakashi went on to explain.
"So why was team seven requested?" Sakura asked.
"All of the large villages will be providing a group of five ninjas. But one village has been put in charge of coordinating these efforts. This time they've chosen to let the Sand lead the mission." Kakashi continued.
"The Sand?" Sakura asked surprised.
Kakashi nodded his head. "A peculiar choice considering the recent death of the Kazekage.
"But that still doesn't explain why they asked for us." Naruto remarked with her arms crossed.
"The Sand ninja specifically asked for our team to join them on this mission." Their teacher explained. "That's all I know. If we want to find out more we'll need to ask them once we get to the Land of Iron."
"Could this be a trap?" Sasuke asked.
"We've considered that possibility." Kakashi replied while rubbing his hand over his chin. "But choosing to ambush us during the meeting with so many other parties present makes little sense. That being said, we had best be on our guard."
They were really going to do a mission? This was what Naruto had wanted all along. She hadn't wanted the change to affect the way she was being treated. But now that her goal was in sight she started to feel some doubt.
"Something on your mind Naruto?" Kakashi asked, interrupting her thoughts.
"Ehm? No! I mean. What would I be thinking about?" She asked almost tripping over the words.
"Good." Kakashi replied not sounding convinced. But despite that he dropped the topic and turned his attention to the entire group. "The next two weeks we'll be training together each day. I expect you to all work hard."
"Huh? You're taking this rather seriously sensei. Does that mean you'll be a bit more punctual from now on?" Sakura asked.
"I'm always punctual." Kakashi replied solemnly.
The three regular members of team Seven just stared at Kakashi, not believing he had just made such a blatant lie.
"Right then. Let's continue our training." Kakashi said.
The four youngsters nodded, ready to prepare for the challenge that was to come.
Four days had passed. Every day the four trained at the forest training grounds.
Things had somewhat returned to normal. Sakura clung to Sasuke's side and Sasuke was constantly acting indifferent to everything that happened. Neji didn't alter the dynamics in their group too much, though he was sometimes the voice of reason when emotions flared up too brightly. Kakashi mostly kept to himself, he gave them their respective tasks and then returned to his reading.
Naruto was glad to avoid the rest of the village by spending her days out in the woods. On her way to the village she received weird looks and she could hear the villagers whisper. But sometimes someone would approach her on her way and exchange a few words. Though the conversations that followed were often awkward ones, she was glad that people didn't avoid her like before.
The first few days they had gone over the basics. But today was going to be different, today they were going to spar. Naruto couldn't wait.
"Alright, Sasuke you'll spar with…" Kakashi started.
"I'll take on Sasuke!" Naruto declared dramatically swinging her right arm towards the raven haired boy and pointing at him. "This has been long coming." She smiled widely at him.
Sasuke just looked back at her annoyed.
"What's that? Too scared to answer?" Naruto asked smugly, cupping one hand to her ear.
Kakashi sighed. "I guess we should get this out of the way. Fine. You two can spar, but remember that this is just a spar, not a fight, not a match, just a normal simple spar. No winners, no losers."
"Lucky for you." Naruto said, still egging Sasuke on, she was hoping he'd snap at her. So far he wasn't biting. He just kept glaring at her silently.
"Sasuke would so beat you in a real fight." Sakura said as she stepped next to Sasuke. "Isn't that right?" She asked him.
Naruto's eye twitched. Why did Sakura always have to pick his side?
"Let's just get started." Sasuke said stepping away from Sakura.
"I'll dazzle you with my new moves Sakura. Just you watch. I've become a real man." Naruto said proudly.
Sakura just looked evenly at Naruto. "Yeah, obviously. Just try not to get yourself hurt."
Naruto turned away, a determined look on her face. She wasn't going to be dissuaded by her current condition. At long last her promised duel with Sasuke was going to happen. After this he had no choice but to acknowledge her.
Sasuke in turn brought up his guard. He looked tense. He was taking this seriously for once.
Naruto leapt towards him and the two exchanged kicks and punches, each one of their attacks was blocked or dodged by the other. Their quick exchange of blows ended as Naruto leapt back.
"Not bad, but…. Now I'm going to get serious." The blonde declared as she brought her hands together. She started to form her ki between her hands quickly making the air swirl so that it would form in an orb. "Rase…" That was when everything went wrong.
The sleeves of Naruto's jacket slid down her shoulders and covered most of her hands. She desperately tried to keep her hand movements in the correct pattern, but with her sleeves now restraining her finger movements her Rasengan soon failed. "Stupid sleeves!" Naruto growled annoyed.
She looked up at Sasuke. "Time ou…" But Sasuke wasn't waiting. The raven haired boy had taken the opportunity and leapt towards her. In a flash he had reached her and now his hand was inches from her throat. Lightning crackled over his hand casting an eerie light on his face and reflecting back on his now blood red eyes.
Naruto stared back into his eyes, knowing that she was at his mercy.
"Weren't you going to dazzle us with your new moves?" He asked her, still holding his hand dangerously close to her throat.
"That didn't count!" Naruto objected. "My sleeves got in the way."
"At least you're still good at making excuses." The lightning faded from Sasuke's hand.
Kakashi looked up from his book. "Naruto, you're going to have to change your clothes."
"Change my clothes? Why? My orange jumpsuit is awesome." She declared.
"It is NOT awesome." Sakura interrupted. "Why can't you wear something normal?"
Naruto hung her head, why could she never impress Sakura? She even hated how she dressed.
"It's not true!" Naruto cried, denying Sakura's claim. "You guys like it, right?" Naruto turned to the men.
Kakashi had quickly found escape in his novel.
Sasuke just had his arms crossed and looked at her as though she was the lowest form of life imaginable.
"You understand, right Neji?" Naruto asked the Hyuga boy as she grabbed his hands in her own. "It looks cool, right?"
Neji sweat dropped and took a few moments before he cautiously replied. "I do not presume to know anything about fashion. However since we've started training you've tripped twice over your pants and your hand movements have been hampered ten times before this incident."
"There you have it, get new clothes." Kakashi said from behind his book.
"What? No. This is ridiculous. They're fine." Naruto objected. "Besides, I wouldn't even know where to…"
Suddenly a puff of smoke filled the center of the clearing. The smoke rolled over the five ninja in seconds obscuring their sight. The students brought up their guards ready for a fight.
"Byakugan." Neji spoke as he pierced the smoke with his gaze.
When the smoke started to lift from the ninja, Naruto could see that both Neji and Kakashi had lowered their guard. She turned to the center of the clearing to find Jiraya there balancing on one leg, arms extended to either side.
"It is fortuitous that I was near to hear of your plight, my young student." Jiraya spoke.
"Plight?" Naruto asked. "There is no plight."
"The idiot doesn't know how to dress. Not much of a plight." Sasuke remarked.
Naruto turned on Sasuke, ready to reply, but Jiraya interrupted, getting in between the two. "I'll help out." Jiraya placed his hands gently on Naruto's shoulders. "I know just the place to go to get you something nice. Something that'll enhance your attributes."
"Enhance my attributes?" Naruto asked intrigued.
"You'll do no such thing!" Sakura growled as she grabbed Naruto by the arm and pulled her away from Jiraya.
"Wait, wait. He's going to enhance my attributes." Naruto objected.
"No he isn't." Sakura stated, she looked ready to hit Naruto over the head again. "I'll take you shopping." The pink haired kunoichi continued.
"So… we'll be going to the shop together?" Naruto asked cautiously. "Just the two of us?"
"Yes." Sakura quickly replied.
Naruto frowned and considered this a moment and then nodded her head. She didn't like the idea of going to get new clothes. But she would be alone with Sakura. "I'll go with you Sakura." Naruto replied with a bright smile.