Ohayo, and welcome back. I'm a bit befuddled at this point, I've gotten a review or two wanting me to show more of what the other gennin are doing. On the other hand I've recieved several emails saying I shouldn't stay on it too much, so I'm going to do both! Oh and updates are going to be a bit slower (about 3 days in between) during the christmas time. o.O Read on!

Disclaimer - I do NOT own Naruto

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-Chapter 24: Rookies-

Hinata wiped the sweat off her brow with her sleeve as she stepped back from her work, "Done." She waited patiently while Sakura examined the large fish she had been assigned to heal, "Sakura?" she questioned nervously

The pink haired girl turned around with a huge smile, "Perfect."

"I'm surprised I didn't notice it sooner," added Tsunade, "the Byakugan is perfect for healing and rebuilding chakra pathways." Then she humphed as she tossed the fish back into the pond, "but then again those old fools on the council are too wrapped up in making the clan, the strongest."

Earlier in the year Hinata would have been shocked at the sannin's harsh words directed at her clan, but over time she had gotten used to it. Even coming to realize that, most of the time, she was right. All three kunoichi, then, sat down for a well deserved break, "Sakura, how is your research coming along?" questioned Hinata.

Sakura shrugged, "With all the training and the constant worry of attacks, along with my duties at the hospital, I haven't been able to make much head way," she replied. "The longer I wait," she continued as she stared into her tea cup, "the closer to irrepairable her condition is going to be." After setting her drained cup down, Sakura slumped back in her chair

-Flashback-

"Well, Kaa-san?" questioned the pink haired girl

The older woman shook her head, "Tsunade-sama said the kunai severed her spinal cord, she's paralyzed from the waist down."

-End Flashback-

'Repairing nerve endings is nearly impossible,' thought the pink haired girl, 'but I can do it!' She was broken out of her inner pep-talk by Hinata prodding her shoulder, "What?"

"I asked you if you had heard from Zaiaku-san," she questioned

Sakura shook her head, "No," she replied, "I haven't heard from him since he sent word that he was going further into snow country." Then quirked an eyebrow at her friend, "and how about you? anything interesting in your weekly letter from Gaara-san?" she cooed

Hinata attempted a scowl, though she was blushing slightly, "Yes, he's coming back in two weeks." She bowed her head so that her longer hair would hide her reddning cheeks, "he said that he looks forward to seeing me when he returns."

Tsunade smiled at her two girls, "I told you it wouldn't be anything like you planned," then she grinned evily, "don't forget that you can pull rank on those boys to make them take you out, they're still gennin afterall."

"You didn't promote them?" questioned Sakura in disbelief

The sannin shrugged, "Zaiaku left in quite a huff," she replied. This caused Sakura shift uncomfortably in her chair, Tsunade took no notice and continued, "and Gaara and Naruto left before the ceremony."

Hinata looked puzzled, "Aren't you going to promote them to Chunnin?"

"No," replied Tsunade, "I'm not." She ignored the looks of disbelief on the girls' faces, "Well," she said, "back to work!"

Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Jiraiya were walking down a busy street in konoha's retail district, "He's getting worse," stated Kakashi. "His defeat by Zaiaku and his lack of promotion are dealing severe blows to his ego."

"I'm not going to coddle self-absorbed shinobi," replied Sarutobi, "if I would've known this is the way he would be I wouldn't have allowed him into the academy." Taking a puff of his pipe he continued, "What his brother did was unforgiveable, but he is becoming that exact thing. He seeks power, but he has no prejudice as to what kind of power he recieves."

"The question is, why did Orochimaru mark him?" questioned Jiriaya frowning, "his motives are too unclear right now. One thing is for sure though, we have to keep an eye on that boy, lest he run off to the snake."

Kakashi sighed, "What do you suggest I do?"

"Team seven is on suspension," replied Sarutobi, "keep an eye on him."

"And if he attempts to leave?" questioned the Copy ninja

Jiriaya scratched the back of his head as he sat down in the dango stand booth, "Orochimaru can't get his hands on the Sharingan, period."

Sasuke scowled as he watched the three older men enter the dango stand, "After I kill Itachi I'm going to come back here and SHOW you how strong I am," he hissed. "I'll show all of Konoha that the Uchiha clan is the strongest," he stated as he sprinted off to the Uchiha compound, "by burning it to the ground."

Hizashi slumped down as he faced off against his son, "...enough...that's enough, Neji," he gasped as he held up his hand. After recovering he gestured for his son to follow, "what do you see Neji?"

The Hyuuga prodigy looked bewildered, "Tou-san?"

"When you're sparring with us," replied Hiashi, "the opponent you're seeing, is Gaara, isn't it?" Neji turned his head downwards and nodded, "That's quite alright," added the Hyuuga head, "he's quite the young man."

Hizashi smirked, "You seem to be a bit more lenient on the young man, brother."

"Hai," replied Hiashi with a sigh, "Hinata is becoming quite fond of him, what am I supposed to do?" After a shrug he continued, "He's strong, skilled, and the son of the Kazekage. I doubt I could find a better suiter if I tried."

"A SUITER?" exclaimed Neji, breaking his normally stoic posture, "isn't that a bit preemptive? She is only sixteen!"

Hizashi and Hiashi burst into laughter, "I take it you do not approve, Neji-kun?" questioned Hiashi

recovering his posture, the prodigy sipped his tea, "I think she should wait, Hiashi-sama." His response sent the two older men into fits of laughter again, "you're both like children," he huffed quietly.

In snow country, Zaiaku was looking at his small home, "I won't ever be coming back here," he stated as he struck a match, "this is the beginning of a new path, no more looking back." He held the flame to a cloth wrapped stick, creating an effective torch, and then tossed it onto the straw thatched rooftop. 'Let's go home,' he thought as he started down the path to the village, 'I have people to protect.'

In the mountains of fire country, Naruto was stuffing his clothing into his duffle quite forcefully, "I can't BELIEVE this crap," he cried indignantly, "this is the SECOND time this has happened!" Two days ago he recieved a letter from Temari letting him know that she was promoted to jounin, and that several of the rookies were promoted to chunnin. Neji had also successfully passed the jounin exam.

'It's just a rank, kit' replied Kyuubi, 'you're stronger than most all of them, save Gaara and Zaiaku.'

"You're right," huffed the blonde, "I was just kinda hoping things would be a bit different." He began breaking down his tent, "a little recognition, ya know?" He grunted as he shouldered his sword and stood. "Ah well, no sense in dwelling on it right?" he questioned as he began sprinting down the side of the mountain. As he landed on the ground, and began his run to Konoha, he grinned, 'I wonder how strong Gaara and Zaiaku have gotten? I think we should spar when we get home.'

Kyuubi chuckled, 'I'm sure that would be catastrophic.'

Gaara eyed his sister, "Are you certian?" he questioned her. Temari nodded in response, "I am fine with it," he replied, "it is up to the Kazekage though."

The Kazekage frowned, "Fine fine," he stated, "but you have to come visit your Tou-san at least twice a month."

Temari frowned, "Tou-san," she said in a warning tone, "twice a month? I think twice a year is quite enough." She watched with satisfaction as her father gave into the desires of his only daughter.

"Fine!" he shouted and threw his hands in the air, "twice a year." After the kunoichi gave him a hug and ran to her room to begin packing, he glared, "all this for a boy?" he questioned

Gaara smiled, "Naruto has that effect on people."

"He had that effect on you," replied the Kazekage, "did he not, Son?"

The redhead nodded, "that he did Tou-san," he stated, "he has an uncanny ability, to push you harder, and to make you see things in a much simpler light."

The older man sighed, "I'm just glad to have my son back, I thought I had lost him to a monster." He smiled as he heard Temari packing her supplies, "take care of our Temari, Gaara. Make sure Naruto-kun treats her well."

Gaara nodded, "I will," he replied, "but Naruto does not have the capacity to harm her." The two allowed a comfortable silence to wash over them. After a moment, Temari came out of her room grinning, "I assume you are prepared to go?" questioned Gaara

"Hai," she replied, then she turned to her father and gave him a small hug, "I'll write you as soon as we arrive, Tou-san."

In Konoha, Sasuke was scowling, "Don't look at me like that," said Kakashi lazily as he held the mono wire tightly, "you're going to abandon everything for revenge?"

"You have no idea what it's like to be alone," replied the Uchiha, "to lose everyone precious to you because of the person you admired!" Then he took on an evil smirk, "What would you do if I killed Rin-chan?" he questioned, "you wouldn't want to kill me?"

"We can talk figuratively and metaphorically from now till sundown," replied the Jounin, "the reality is that you don't have to skill to kill Rin-chan. Nothing I can do or say will change your mind, so do what you want Sasuke, but if you betray Konoha I will kill you." WIth that said the copy ninja vansihed from sight, leaving a scowling Sasuke behind.

The raven haired Uchiha smiled darkly and stood on the branch as two silouettes appeared on either side of him, "Kill me? I think not." He turned his sharingan on the woman of the group, "are we ready to depart?"

"It took a while to get rid of most of the shitheads between here and the gate," she replied, "but we did it." Without another word all five figures vanished from sight.

Kakashi sighed, he had observed the whole scene, "damn you Sasuke." He lept off the building towards the Hokage tower, he now had the grim duty to report that the final Uchiha had abandoned Konoha.

Zaiaku was standing at the crossroads leading to Konoha, 'damnit where are they?' After another hour of waiting he decided to go on ahead without his teammates, when he took his first step he smirked, "Finally." In the blink of an eye, a perfectly split kunai hit the ground, "You still make too much noise, Naruto."

"Bah!" exclaimed the blonde landing on the ground in front of him, "I almost didn't see you cut that," he gestured to the kunai. Then he went wide-eyed at his friend, "YOU CUT YOUR HAIR!" he sputtered as he pointed. Stepping back he gave Zaiaku a once over, the first thing he noticed of course was that his hair was now only reached his shoulder blades. Next he picked up on the long white coat, it wasn't tied closed, therefore exposing the ice shinobi's black shirt. Zaiaku still sported his long black pants that flared over his black boots, and his black fingerless gloves. The final touch was that he held a sheathed Shimotsuki in his left hand, and his forehead protector was attached to a black choker, fastened around his neck. "What happened to your old sheath?" questioned Naruto

Zaiaku took out a kunai and tapped the scabbard, making a clanking sound, "I had the old man make it," he replied, "I can use it as a defensive weapon now." The ice shinobi smirked when he noticed Naruto's hair was longer and tied back into a loose pony tail, "I thought you said long hair was girly?"

"Temari-chan asked me if I could grow it out," he replied with a slight pink tinge to his cheeks, "I don't see the harm and it's easy enough to tie back." Naruto now wore black pants trimmed in dark red over his combat boots. His black and red sweater was gone, replaced by a blood red muscle shirt and an unzipped black jacket that ended at his waist. His hands were covered by fingerless gloves that only came up to his wrists, Kubikiri Houcho was still strapped to his back, and his forehead still displayed his symbol of a Konoha shinobi.

Zaiaku was about to retort when another voice cut him off, "I see that you two have gotten taller."

"Zabuza!" chorused both teens

The jounin glared, "No hugging!" he warned, this caused Naruto to stop dead in his tracks and pout. Zabuza still looked the same, konoha jounin uniform, with Sangemaru strapped to his back. The only change was that he replaced his mask of bandages with a white and black camoflage one to match his arm covers. "Where's Gaara?" he questioned

"Here," replied the redhead as he and Temari came into view. Gaara's outfit was still mostly black, like his teammates, except he now lacked his gourde and he wore a sandy brown coat that came to the back of his knees. His hair had grown out slightly, now reaching his ears. His pants now covered his black shinobi sandels and he opted not to wear gloves at all. He quirked an eye at Naruto's hair, "Did you cut your hair at all during your training?"

"I like it," stated Temari, blushing slightly she offered Naruto a smile, "Hi Naruto." He was so overjoyed at being near her again that all he could offer was a wave and a cheesy grin. As they entered the hidden leaf village the sand kunoichi couldn't help but feel smug at all the looks of jealousy sent her way by the leaf women. She had no problem reveling in the fact that she was being escorted into the village by four shinobi that could only be described as strikingly gorgeous. Naruto's tan skin and whisker marks gave off an animalistic and exotic charm, while Zaiaku had his aristocratic features along with his white hair, Gaara was an attractive man in his own right with his red hair and sharp green eyes, and even Zabuza had a feeling of mistique about him infered by his mask. Yes, Temari was feeling smug indeed.

"We should report in to Tsunade-sama first," stated Gaara, "Then we will go see what kind of state our apartment is in."

Naruto groaned, "Does that mean cleaning?" Then he turned a curious eye to Temari, "Ne, Temari-ch...Temari, where are you staying?"

"With you," she replied without thinking. After a moment both she and Naruto went crimson

Gaara narrowed his eyes, "In seperate rooms." As they continued down the street Gaara sensed a presence approaching, fast, "That Anko woman is coming."

Zabuza paled, "ZABUZA-KUUUN!" cried the snake jounin as she attempted to pounce on the Demon of the Mist.

Zaiaku snorted, "One day she's going to catch him."

"I feel bad for him when she does," added Naruto

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End Chapter 24: Rookies

Read and Review - alright the boys are back and ready for a fight, what's coming next? and who is the person Sakura is thinking about? I know, but you dont! MUAHAHAAH

Preview Chapter 25: Preparations for War