Well it's looking like a two-week update schedule right now. Hopefully I can keep that up, right? It's really fun for me to be getting back into writing all these other stories I had on hiatus for the last year. I keep thinking up new story ideas, both as something to improve the stories I'm working on now, and plain old new stories. I've got one for Avatar the Last Air Bender that I'll be posting soon, I hope.

Also, Naruto and Hinata have some fun moments in this chapter. It's kinda fun to torture them, actually, just to get their reactions. *smirk* Well, they get a couple missions now. Shouldn't be too bad. Naruto continues to stand up for Hinata's strength. Read and review please!


The next morning the Hyuuga compound was deceptively silent. Most of the household had simply congratulated the heiress for being on the one team to ever pass Kakashi's test. There had been two other Hyuuga shinobi hopefuls that had failed his test, never understanding fully why, and Hinata and Naruto kept the true secret to themselves. Knowing the test might help others pass when they shouldn't, and Naruto didn't want anyone becoming a shinobi that might put themselves before Hinata. He knew that it was her basic instinct to put others ahead of herself, but she'd had a good example in her mother. Hiashi-sama wasn't doing too bad himself anymore, as was evidenced by Hanabi and Hinata's beaming faces as he complimented her on her passing, and Naruto as well, over breakfast.

"Truely I am proud," he said. "Kakashi has never passed a team in the many years he has been given one, and you were on the team that did it."

"Well, it was really thanks to Naruto-kun," she said, blushing in embarressment from the praise. "I, I didn't really do that much."

"Ah, come on Hinata-sama! It was you who made sure that we included Sasuke, and that was, like, pivital to passing, wasn't it?"

"Well I, umm, I suppose..." Hiashi patted her shoulder gently.

"Hinata, it is not always the strongest fists, but sometimes the wisest minds that win the battle, and you have both in abundance."

"I, I'm not that strong," she said quietly.

"You are stronger than you know," Hiashi said quietly.

"Yeah, you are," her guardian added. "You have more hidden power in you than anyone in the village, believe it!" Hinata blushed further as Hiashi considered the yondaime's son.

One of these days, Naruto, we're going to have a nice looong talk to figure out if you just say these things, or if you really know them.

.

.

.

"Well, this is really starting to get annoying," Naruto said, kicking at the dirt.

"Pft; we should have expected it," Sasuke replied.

"Well, yeah, but I just thought he was trying to mess with out heads by doing that. How was I supposed to know that he actually does it ALL the time?" He sighed, dropping to the ground to lean against the wall of the tower. "How much longer do you think he'll be?" Sasuke shrugged.

"Just be glad we passed...you did good figuring out the teamwork trick." Naruto smiled.

"Heheh, yeah, well, it was really all thanks to Hinata. She was the one who figured it out, first." The shy girl blushed, poking her index fingers together.

"W, well, I just, that is, if it was alone, um, it would have been really hard to, you know..."

"Hnn, whatever. We get it."

"Hey! Stop talking to her like that!" Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"Even if you're not as much of a dobe as I thought you still haven't figured out that I always talk like that, have you?" Naruto shook his fist in his face.

"I don't care how you talk to everyone else, but you better not talk to Hinata-sama like that!" The Uchiha rolled his eyes.

"Geez, give it a rest dobe. All I meant was that she didn't need to be so embarressed."

"Yeah? Well then why didn't you-"

"Mah, mah, I thought you guys would be over this by now."

"Sensei? You're late again!"

"Yes, well, this old lady had some groceries she was carrying and she lived all the way across town. I couldn't very well let her walk all that way carrying all those heavy groceries now, could I?" The blonde stared at his new teacher for a while, making even Kakashi sweat drop.

"You were reading your pervy book, weren't you?" The jounin face-faulted before jumping up and scratching the back of his head.

"Hahah, of course not! Why would you think that? Hehe!" Naruto glared.

"...perv..."

"Ahem, anyway," Kakashi said, changing the subject, "it's time we got our first mission as a team. Are you ready?"

"Well we, we've just been waiting for you, sensei, or Naruto would have, have gone in and gotten one already."

"Really," he asked, staring at his shortest student. "Well, sorry to dissapoint you Naruto, but you wouldn't have gotten one even if you had. Until the team leader is present, a gennin team cannot receive a mission. But now that I'm here, let's go."

They fell in line, each of them excited, though Naruto was the only one to show it. Hinata kept her shoulders tight, hands clutched in front of her. Sasuke kept his usual casual attitude, back slouched and hands in his pockets. Kakashi read his book as they strode through the hallways to the mission center. Naruto, however, bubble of excitement that he was, he jumping on his heels, eyes dancing as he wondered why sort of mission their first would be. The doors opened and the Hokage looked up and smiled as team 7 came in.

"Ah, Kakashi; I was wondering when you'd finally get here."

"Mah, there was an old lady-"

"Oh cut the crap, sensei! I still say it's because you were reading that book." Kakashi blushed slightly.

"Yes, well, in any case, I think it's time they got their first mission, don't you, Hokage-sama."

"Yes, of course. I'm happy to see that you passed Kakashi's test with such flying colors. No one before you has managed it you know. That makes you three a very special group."

"G, gomen, Hokage-sama, but I, I don't think-"

"Hyuuga Hinata, I am being very serious with this compliment. If you don't believe me, just ask your sensei. He will agree with me, and if you three can continue to work together like you did on your test, and improve on that teamwork, there will be no bar you cannot surpass. For the moment, however, we will have to settle with getting through these mission. I should inform you, Kakashi, that you managed to be late enough to miss the mission for catching the Daimyo's wife's cat, Tora." Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief. "Still, perhaps this mission for sewer cleaning with suffice," he said, evil glint in his eye.

"Nani! I thought these were ninja missions old man! What's this about cleaning sewers and catching lost cats?"

"These are ninja missions, Naruto. However as you may recall, you are new ninjas, so until your skills are better and you can advance in rank, you have to settle for D rank missions, the most common kind with the least danger. Once you advance you can do C rank, then B, and possibly even A."

"Ehh? What's the difference?"

"The closer to A rank you get, the more chance there is of running into shinobi from other villages, and the more likely the danger of meeting more dealy and more highly skilled opponents. So for now, D-ranks in the...almost morning," he said, giving a pointing gaze at Kakashi, "and training with your team in the afternoon. That seems fair, yes?"

"Mmmmm..."

"Alright. Report back here when the mission is done to recieve your pay. Have fun!"

"Load of crap," Naruto muttered as they left. "Old man couldn't give us a better mission than that? It's your fault, sensei."

"Mmm? Did you say something Naruto?"

Off in the distance a green clad man sneezed and heard a scream of agony. Why do I feel like someone knows my pain?

.

.

.

Several weeks of missions passed, and though he tried to hide it, Hinata picked up on his agitation. He'd been told with their return from the sewer cleaning that he would have to wait for the chuunin exams in a few months before he could even think of advancing. Kakashi, trying to placate him, had given him some material on the exams so he would be more familiar with them once they came up. He became quiet a day or two after that, more pensive. Even starting with some clan training did little to list his spirits. All he did was ask why they would train him in the Hyuuga techniques. The answer was that it would help him better understand Hinata's strengths and weaknesses, and thus allow him to better compliment her skills. He'd nodded and began, but his attitude remained somber. After three weeks of missions and training as gennin, Hinata finally gave in and made herself ask him.

"N, Naruto-kun...are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, Hinata-sama. I'm fine."

"You, you don't seem fine," she replied. "You've been...less you since we became gennin." He grimaced.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you can read me that well. Uncle Hiashi has been training you to do that kind of thing." He sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "Don't worry about it. It's my problem." Hinata looked down for a moment as they continued walking.

"Naruto, please...won't you tell me what's wrong?" Her guardian sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before replying.

"You remember when sensei gave me that stuff on the chuunin exams? Well, I may want to be a chuunin, but...people die in the chuunin exams. People stop being ninja because of the chuunin exams. I know that it's part of being a ninja that we risk our lives, but I'm not just risking my life if we do that; I'm risking yours, and you life is far more important than mine."

"No!" Hinata yelled at him, fighting away the rising blush. "No, that's not true," she told him. "Naruto-kun is very important, and, and I think that you are very strong," she said. "I want you to know that I, that I, that I think...you're more than strong enough to handle the chuunin exams."

"Yeah but...Hinata-chan...I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you..." Hinata, again fighting the blush, turned and clutching him tightly, pushing her face into his chest. Naruto looked around wildly to see if anyone was there to see what was happening, a quick fear in him of anyone important noticing him being so close to the Hyuuga heiress in public.

"Naruto-kun...I may not be strong, but I want you to succeed and follow your dreams. I promise, I won't get in, in your way, and even so, I know that your strong enough to protect me because...because you've done it before."

"Wh, when was that?" Her eyes closed tightly as she recalled what little she could of the night she was kidnapped.

"You, you were there," she said, "that night that, that led to your father's death," she said, "when I was kidnapped, you came to rescue me, even though he was a ninja and, and you were just a small child, you came to rescue me, and I was rescued."

"Err, yeah, but um, it kinda wasn't me that-"

"But you still came and faced him down," she said, finally pulling away slightly though she still gripped his right arm. "Because of what is in here," she told him, placing her other hand over his heart, "I konw that no matter what you'll be able to do whatever it is that you want." Naruto blushed. She wouldn't say that if she really knew what was in my heart...I'm still not sure myself except that I know it can never be. Even with those thoughts he hugged her back quickly, ever more wary of the wrong set of eyes landing on them.

"Thank-you, Hinata-chan," he said as Hinata looked at him, neither of them noticing their own blushes. He/she's so cute... They began to lean closer for a moment before a cat yowled down the street as a lady dumped a bucket of water from her window out onto the unsuspected cat below. Naruto and Hinata jumped several feet apart, hearts pounding. That...that was too close, Naruto thought. I, I have to talk to Neji...no, not Neji, he wouldn't help with this...the old man, maybe? I sure as heck can't talk to Hiashi-sama. Despite last time, he'd kill me!

I, did I, did I almost k, kiss him? He, he must think I'm so weird now. I can't believe I did that! Still, he thought, looking over at him, I, I think he feels better now.

Not again not again not again, think of something else think of something else, think of something else!

"So, um, thanks," he said, speaking quickly. "That's great advice. I like it. I think you're right. You always are, aren't you? Haha! Next time we go in to get a mission I'm gonna give the old man what for," he said, trying to cover up the akward situation.

"Y, yes, that, that sounds like a good idea," Hinata agreed, also trying to forget the akward moment. At dinner that night Hanabi and Hiashi would keep looking at the two of them, wondering at their uncharacteristic chattiness, but neither would discover the cause.

.

.

.

The next day they were preemptively assigned a mission. Kakashi had groaned when he was handed the scroll by the Hokage's messenger. Well, I guess it was only a matter of time. Now I'll get to see first hand the horrors of Tora.

"Eh? Catch a cat? That can't be too hard, right?"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. This cat is so hard to catch that the Hokage once contemplated making it a C rank mission instead of D rank."

"Eh? How can a cat be that good?"

"I don't know," Kakashi shrugged. "How does an academy student consistently evade the NPCS?" see chapter 7

"Heheh, well, I guess I just learned really good," the blonde said, scratching his head. That was one of his personal favorite accomplishments was both the creation and evasion of said group.

"Well, this cat happens to be in the ownership of the wife of the Lord of our country. He escapes a lot and, like you, has learned how to evade shinobi rather effectively. Even though I have never had the mission, I have still heard of him. That speaks to his skills. I had hoped to avoid this mission, but, well..."

"Heck, who cares! If the Hokage things it's C-rank worthy let's get on this," Naruto yelled in excitement.

"...Right...Well, tracking target Tora mission accepted, then. Let's get you three some head sets..."

Some time later they had finally cornered and captured the cat, and Naruto was disillusioned as to the skill required to do the mission. In truth Kakashi had anticipated more difficulty himself. Hinata's eyes and kind personality made the cat easy to find, and even easier to reel in, though he suspected that the cat would not take as kindly to the girl if they ever got the mission again since she handed him right back to the fire Daimyo's wife. The look of shock on the cat's face when he shifted arms was almost enough to make him laugh. But of course things could not stay that way.

"Hokage-sama, come on, if that was a border-line C-rank mission that we're more than ready for a real C-rank mission. Can't you give us one of those instead of another D-rank?"

"Naruto, you are only genin. You only get D-rank," Iruka told him, rubbinng the bridge of his nose.

"Besides Naruto," the Hokage said after talking a draw from his pipe, "a real C-rank can be much more dangerous, and you have your charge to think of, do you not," he asked, gesturing towards Hinata. She Hyyuga blushed, afraid that Naruto would once again bow over in favor of her safety. She felt so bad that she was always keeping him back and-

"Hinata-sama is more than capable of a doing a C-rank, old man."

-and it was just slowing him...wait...what? She turned sharply to look at her gaurdian.

"W, what? Naruto-kun, did you just...?"

"Of course! Hinata-sama is a really strong ninja, so if I can do a mission, she can do even better, neh?" Hinata blushed at the compliment, poking her fingers together.

"Hn, the dobe's mostly right. I don't know how strong she is, but I think we're all ready for a harder mission. Besides, if you don't acknowledge what he says about Hinata he'll just get on your case until you agree with him." He moved his leg to dodge a kick from Naruto as the adults lightly laughed.

"Alright," Hiruzen said, "fine. If you're all so confident in your abilities, I have an easy escort mission for you."

"Yeah? An escort? Sweet! How far are you going? Are they here already? Is there an army of ninja trying to kill them? This is gonna be so cool!"

"Mah, mah, settle down," Kakashi said. "Even at C-rank the odds of running into other ninja is pretty low. Still, it should be a good experiance. Where are headed, sir?"

"To the land of waves. You'll be escorting a skilled bridge builder by the name of Tazuna. Call him in," he said to the shinobi at the door. "He may not be what hoped for, but I expect you to remain civil at all times when he-"

"This is my escort?" The vioce came from the doorway as an old man carrying a sake container leaned against the frame. "Between the little shimp and pathetic looking girl, I don't think this is worth it." He blinked as a scream echoed through the room as all of team seven held Naruto back. The ferocity in the genin's eyes even made him stumble backwards a few steps.

"Let go! Let me at him! No one disrepects Hinata-chan like that! NO ONE!"

"Naruto! Calm down! You can't attack the client!"

"Stop-it-dobe!"

"N, Naruto-kun...please...stop," came Hinata's pleading voice. The group nearly fell over as Naruto's struggle instintaneously ceased.

"Fine...but I don't like him and I don't trust him."

"Please, Naruto, he must just be a little drunk..."

"No, Iruka sensei, he isn't. Anyone that carries sake around so non-chalantly drinks to much to be drunk with that little bottle."

"Hey! I'll have you know that I-"

"Shut up! I'm gonna do this mission for you, but I have my eyes on you, got that," he declared, glaring intently at the old man who had to suppress the urge to whimper at the intensity behind the boy's voice.

"Y, yeah, got it."

"And no more disrepect to Hinata-chan! She's the heiress of the Hyuuga clan and the best gennin in the village!" Several people in the room blinked at his declaration. Hinata simpley blushed.

"I, I'm not that strong, Naruto-kun," she protested.

"Yes, you are," he affirmed. "No one knows you like I do, and I say you're the best, so there!"

"...yes, well, if there are no further aurguments from either side? Good. Now Tazuna-san, please be ready to leave from the village gates in an hour. Team 7, same goes for you. Inform whomever you need to that you will be gone for a couple of weeks, understand?" The children nodded. "Good. Dismissed."

.

please don't forget to review

.

Heading back to the compound Hinata addressed Naruto's previous declaration.

"Naruto, you don't have to, to stand up for me like that. We both know that you're stronger than I am." Naruto shook his head.

"Nah, that's just what it looks like," he replied. "I look strong, sure, and I intend to be super strong! But Hinata, you have more strength than you know," he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I know the secret strength inside you. Most people can't even hold a candlestick to the strength you have, believe it!"

"But Naruto, I-"

"Please, Hinata, trust me! Tou-san knew, too, about the strength that you have. Every day you even breath a relaxed breath you inspire me to be stronger, you know?" The girl looked down.

"I...but it's so hard to even keep up with you," she said. "I, I'm so weak. Even, even Hanabi is more skilled than I am."

"Hey, it's not about skills all the time. It's about the strength in your heart. That's what I've been talking about, Hinata-chan. The strength of your heart is just amazing; it's astounding! Despite everything that you could feel or think, you always care about other people, all the time, and no one has more reason than you to give in to hate or anger."

"But, but that's not true! If anyone should be angry, it's you, for how the village treats you all the time, just because you have that fox..." she looked around quickly. "That fox inside you. It isn't fair." Naruto smiled, hiding his guilt.

"Maybe...be I've got Hinata, so why should I be angry? No, the way the clan treats you for being kind, now that is a reason to be angry-"

"But how I can be angry when I have you," came her retort, using his own words, causing them both to blush.

"Hehe, touche, Hinata-sama, touche," he said, being careful to return to using the proper honorific for hieress the main family. Don't need to go trying to kiss her again. I really need to watch it... "Well, let's just say we both have reasons to be mad, but neither of us care. How's that?" Hinata nodded, hiding the hurt from him changing honorifics on her again. Why can't it be 'chan' all the time? Is there really anything wrong with that?

"Sweet; now lets get ready for this mission!"

Naruto-kun...


Personal favorite scene? Naruto trying to kill Tazuna. Well, beat up, actually, but saying kill is so much funner. Close second is the bit where Gai get's mentioned. What was your favorite scene?

To be honest, the parts at the end with Naruto and Hinata talking, I wanted to improve those more, but I"ve been pretty sick these last few days so it's been a bit hard to concentrate on that sort of thing, and I like getting the story posted by a certain time. With that in mind, I couldn't really think of how to improve it much more than I have. It gets the point across that I wanted, but I wanted to do it in a less awkward manner, you know?

On the other hand, Naruto is continuing to mature, and really thinking deep, even if in his subconscious, allowing him to sense future threats. One thing he is keeping himself from seeing, though, is how Hinata feels about him, in case you couldn't tell. It'll come out eventually, but an even bigger question: when will Hinata learn the truth about the Kyuubi?

Keep reading to find out more!

Oh, and reviews are always appreciated. :D