Right, so, an update far earlier than I expected. I just got an idea for what to do, and I could pound it out. After this is The Hat Hangs Heavy, where Naruto battles the Jashin priest Vegeta, followed by Naruto Shippuden T where all of post timeskip Team 7 faces the Bell Test, and a Sasuke-centered chapter of life in Kumo in Lost Idol before we get the next chapter of Second Chance (probably).
So, forewarning, I have decided to drop the -san's and -chan's and -kun's in this story because the rules are complicated and this is America and I'm lazy. I know people could complain, so I am cutting it off at the pass. But other than that, I'm sorry for the wait 2, I still don't own Naruto, and tell me what you think if you are reading this with a review below.
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"I don't trust Iwagakure in the least." Danzo made his feelings abundantly clear to the Sandaime Hokage. "Our interactions in the last decade have been minimal, but the second the news of Minato being alive is leaked, they announce they are sending a diplomatic congregation to 'ease relation'? I truly hope Hiruzen that you see this for the scam it is." His one eye pierced the Hokage, trying to embed his ideology into him.
Beside him, the elder Koharu shook her head in agreement. "He's right, Hiruzen. The chances that the Tsuchikage would send men here for this purpose are minimal. From the outline of reports we have heard from Iwa, the diplomats being sent are of only average importance. And the leader of the expedition is a jonin that we can not trust."
Danzo agreed with her. "Indeed. This jonin, from all reports, is among their strongest shinobi. From our rough calculations, he could equal or perhaps best Sharigan Kakashi in battle and, more importantly, could defeat the former Yondaime before he can fully regain his strength. He is a trusted student of the Tsuchikage, and could easily be an assassin for them."
The third voice of Hiruzen's reason, Homura, interjected finally. "While your claims are hypothetically true, they can easily be explained away from a logical perspective. The use of low ranking diplomats make them acceptable casualties if we were to attack them, while also limiting their ability to make grand promises on behalf of Iwa. If we had decided to attempt to end this feud, can you say we would not do the same thing Koharu, Danzo? And, Hokage, the choice of this shinobi, A mighty shinobi is logical as a sufficient deterrent from attacking the diplomats and as a show of Iwa's might, so that we may negotiate in good faith."
"This is the same tactic Kumo used seven years ago, Homura. I do not wish to be made a fool of again." Danzo countered strongly. Danzo returned his attention to the Hokage. "Agreeing to accept these individuals was a mistake, Hiruzen. You risk not only the Yondaime, but also the Kyuubi jinchuriki. That is unacceptable."
"Unacceptable as it may be to you, Danzo, I am thinking of the long term future of my village. And if we can erase a foe from our past, and have an ally in our future, I would rather have egg on my face then knowing I failed to do anything at all. And even if you were to sway me, they arrive tomorrow morning, in 14 hours. It would be impossible to feasibly stop them without creating further crisis." The Hokage expertly talked down the situation's tension and gave a basic analysis. He turned his attention towards Danzo specifically.
"And I have learned the lessons of Kumo. Extra care is being taken, not only for Minato and Naruto, but for the Hyuga's, the Uchiha's, and other important clans."
"What sort of care?" Koharu asked the Hokage, as she and Homura were unaware of any said provisions being made.
…
"Naruto, this room is tiny. Are you sure it is even a room?" Sasuke Uchiha questioned Naruto about the 4th bedroom in the Namikaze house, a mere 3 by 3 meters in size. His bag that was on the floor seemed to swallow a large chunk of the floor space.
Naruto shrugged. "Well, it was meant to be a guest room. And it isn't like guests need a full room to put their stuff."
Sasuke looked around the room with the full-size bed and nightstand, along with a sparsely filled bookcase and short narrow dresser. Those few things took up a large chuck of the room. "I usually begin my days with stretching if I am not in a hurry. There is no room for this in here."
Naruto shook his head. "You are only staying here two nights cause the Hokage asked. You can go that long without stretching."
Sasuke rolled his eyes but knew Naruto was correct. Two days of not stretching would cause no long lasting damage to his goals. "I only agreed because it seemed like a unique opportunity to learn from one of the best shinobi alive. Frankly, this is more likely to put myself into harm than staying alone in the compound. If I understand correctly, it is Iwa we are worried about. And Iwa is more interested in you and your father than the Uchiha."
Naruto just gave him a look for a moment. "Yeah, well, if they try anything, dad and I will just kick their asses." He informed him in a tone that made it seem like the most obvious thing in the world.
Sasuke knew the stupidity in that response, that Naruto had yet to become a genin and thought he could defeat legitimate shinobi, shinobi that a Hokage entrusted to defeat a man who defeated the Kyuubi. However, he was a guest in his house, and he would leave his delusions intact. So instead, he left the room and made his way downstairs. Naruto followed him down.
"So, Sasuke, since you're the guest and I can't cook, how about we go out to eat? I'll even pay!" Naruto tried to tempt Sasuke, but he knew that when Naruto meant out to eat, he meant ramen. And Sasuke, even if he was hungry, was not in the mood for ramen.
"I will pass on that offer, Naruto. I'm not really hungry and, to tell you the truth, I'd rather be training. I'll be outside." With that, Sasuke left the house and Naruto to make a decision. He decided beef instant ramen.
About 5 minutes later, Naruto carried two instant ramen cups stacked on one another out of the house and looked for Sasuke. He caught him sitting on the ground, facing the side of the house. Sasuke looked at him, and gave him a look that Naruto read as "How is that genius idea of ramen-eating possible?" (It really said, "What?")
"Well, you see, the bottom cup is the first ramen cup I made. While I was waiting for the second cup to finish, I drank some of the broth and eat some of the noodles of the first. That way, I could put the second cup into the first cup without splashing any broth or noodles out. Then, I eat the entire second cup of ramen, and remove the cup and put the first cup into so I can eat the rest. The best part is, the first cup has the warmth trapped in by the second cup so that, when I get to it, it is still warm instead of going all cold and icky!" Sasuke did not care one bit about that explanation, though he was surprised Naruto had stumbled his way into making a freshness seal with ramen cups. Naruto moved on from having ramen on the brain (it was still going into his mouth) and became focused on Sasuke. "So, what made you sit on the ground instead of training?" He asked him.
Sasuke pointed to the wall. "I'm trying to figure out how you do that wall-walk stunt. I can get it has to do with sending chakra to stick yourself to the wall, but I can't get it done. I was hoping the Yondaime could show me that much."
"Well, apparently they are still doing a mission or something. I wish I could be doing cool missions and stuff." Naruto complained. "And heck, I could show you that. It just takes knowing how much chakra you need to stick, and then making sure you can stick with one foot while you take the step to the next." Naruto moved about 10 meters from the wall, ramen cups still in hand. Sasuke looked back at him, about to receive an explanation on what he was doing. "It also helps if you get a running start for momentum." With that, Naruto took off to the wall. With ease he began running up it, getting two thirds of the way up before slowing to a stop on the wall. "See, it is pretty easy." However, Naruto didn't realize that ramen obeys the laws of physics, and when a cup is turned sideways the contents begin to spill out. He quickly realized such when he saw the broth falling.
"NOOOOO!" He yelled out, jumping to follow the ramen. Sasuke looked on in horror as Naruto tried to catch the fallen ramen back into the cup, only causing more ramen to fall out. Horror as he realizes this was his rival, this was the son of the great hero of Konoha. This was the guy who wanted to be Hokage. Naruto landed, the entirety of the second cup's content spilled onto the ground near the wall. Sasuke was happy he was away from the splatter zone, looking on as Naruto was mourning the loss of the noodles. He was mourning the loss of the noodles. Mourning them. The noodles. He was mourning the freakin' noodles. Sasuke looked away, knowing he was getting trapped in an endless loop of shock of the, for the lack of a better word, insanity he was witnessing. He turned to see both Minato and Neji walking up the pathway to the house. They were also looking at Naruto.
"Naruto, stop doing that and head inside." Minato commanded his son. He was frankly embarassed that Neji and Sasuke had seen that. What was worse was that he wasn't even the first Uzumaki that this had happened too.
Sasuke decided that now was not the time to learn about wall walking, and followed Naruto's lead about going inside. He passed him as he slowly marched to the door. He couldn't help but call him this utterly perfect phrase.
"Dobe."
With that, the four men went inside as the ignored twilight came. Minato especially was anxious, because Iwa was arriving in the morning.
Despite the warnings of Iwa's arrival in the early morning, Rock Lee knew he had to be training. If he would ever defeat Neji, he had to train twice as long and twice as hard as him and become twice the shinobi he was. It would not be an easy battle, but he was assured he could do it. He was doing his technically legal laps around Konoha, which was a massive hidden village that took some time to complete. His ability, as a fresh genin, to leave the village gates for training was questionable but the gate guards were friendly towards him and supported his goals. He was nearly finishing the second lap, the early morning sun high enough to cause sufficient sunlight but still too early for the day to begin, when he felt a presence in the air. Multiple presences. Rock Lee pushed himself harder to get to the front gates, uncomfortable by this presence that was not exactly welcoming. He had remembered Iwa was supposed to be coming but thought he could make friends with them easily. But if this was indeed their aura, he was not sure such would be the case.
He kept running, with the gates of Konoha coming into view. At this time, a shinobi burst out of hiding from the brush and began running at the same pace as Lee. He slowed down significantly, in shock, and this shinobi followed his head. He was younger, with long blonde hair in a ponytail and an Iwa headband. Lee could feel some of the aura coming from him, but he looked friendly enough.
"Isn't it a bit early for green genin such as yourself to be out?" His voice was pleasant enough, but Lee understood he was dangerous. He was naive, not ignorant.
"Not at all, Iwa shinobi! I am just doing my morning exercises before a full day of training. I don't wish to stay a genin for long." Lee told him plainly.
He received a small smile. "I like your style, kid. I bet with a little time, you could be a masterpiece. Wish the brats I was lugging around had half your style." He turned to the forests. "Brat! Lady Brat! Old Brat! Get your butts in motion, Konoha is right here." Lee heard a few people in the distance and looked towards the sound.
The blonde shinobi caught his attention with a nod. "Before I let you finish your running, I want to ask a question. How is that old Minato fellow doing?"
Lee gave him a suspicious look. "What do you want with sensei?" Lee knew he revealed too much as he said it.
The blonde looked pleased. "Oh, so he is teaching, and you are his little genin! That's hilarious. They got him taking students again. I thought a Hokage big shot was above that!" He chuckled a tiny bit before getting a serious look on his face. "Tell you what, kid, tell your sensei that, once I am done doing my thing with the brats and their duties, I would love to meet him. Tell him that Deidara would love to meet him."