Promises Made

Chapter 25

Hiashi kept his face impassive as he watched Naruto move through his kata and try as he might, he couldn't completely hide the pride on his face.

The boy he had adopted and grown to love was doing something he never thought would occur…recreating one of the most devastating martial arts styles from nothing.

When Hiashi deemed he was ready, he had taken Naruto and Hinata both to a section of the dojo that no one seemed to use. Hiashi had called it the "Iron room", and at first neither child understood why, until they had to actually begin training in it. It was where you ironed out the kinks or faults in your taijutsu.

The room was a little larger then twenty by twenty, and spaced less then five feet apart were wooden dummies covered in bronze plating that had various limbs attached to them to represent arms of legs in various forms of attack.

Hiashi had Naruto stand in the middle of the room and explained how the dummies worked.
Some were on a pivot so would spin freely, others were on a spring and would rebound after struck, and still others had both.

Hiashi explained that the point of the exercise in this room was to strike all of the dummies in a critical manner, and then move onto the next target within a hairs breadth of time, and still avoid the retaliatory strike.

All eighteen dummies in the room had to be "incapacitated" within one minute. To make matters even more difficult, each dummy had a red X on two, or one point of its body…this was the area that was to "kill" the dummy.

Naruto didn't think much of it and was confident he could breeze through it with no problem…and then he found a large lump on his head and his butt firmly planted on the floor after hitting the third dummy.

Hinata, was not happy about this, and smacked her father's arm, causing him to stop laughing.

To say Naruto learned a hard lesson that day would be an understatement.

Hiashi walked over and turned the dummy to face him and Naruto noticed the arm on the dummy was long enough to reach him while he attacked the one next to it.

Before Naruto could protest Hiashi smirked at him. "I did not teach you the spider stance because it looks cool. You must learn that an attack can come from anywhere, even from a downed opponent. To use a bad example remember Neji's battle against that rock ninja."

Naruto looked down feeling embarrassed before he nodded. His father was right. Naruto broke a few cardinal rules with this session.

Never be too proud or boastful, and never underestimate an opponent.

Obviously, these dummies hit back.

That was a few weeks before now.

Hiashi before their training this day approached both children and told them he knew of their surprise, and he wanted to see it.

Naruto reluctantly agreed, but was now spinning, ducking, blocking and striking the dummies with speed and precision.

Hiashi was so incredibly proud of Naruto that he at first didn't see it, but as Naruto came to the end of the room's purpose he saw it.

Naruto's movements while a little hesitant in some spots reminded him very much of his best friends whenever he saw him fight.

It was uncanny, like he was watching a smaller version of Minato, and he could see where this would cause heads as well as tempers to turn, but even so he still would not take the path that Sarutobi had suggested. Naruto deserved to have his life.

"Iush my son…very impressive!"

Hizashi stood with his face impassive, but inside his stomach churned and his mind ran with excitement. Unbelievable! If I had not seen it with my own eyes…

Naruto flush from his movements smiled at his father and uncle, while Hinata and Izumi clapped from the side of the room. "Thank you daddy…I..I have done this for you."

Hiashi's grin grew as he clapped his son on the shoulder. "And I am very proud of you…but I did notice where you hesitated in some points. Why is that my son?"

Naruto bowed to the dojo floor quickly then jogged over to his things and brought back a scroll.

At Hiashi and Hizashi's curious looks Naruto unfurled it and they recognized the scroll for what it was, a detailed layout of what he had developed and how. "Well I have been trying to fill the gaps with movements that would flow with what I have already made, but I have not found any in the styles that I already know. I looked through the taijutsu archive, but nothing from what I have seen seems to fit. I am deciding if there should be a weapon style in it as well, but I know for a fact that I need another strong style, and at least one more mid range and speed style and it should be finished."

Hiashi frowned in thought as Hizashi asked. "Have you thrown aspects of the gentle fist in?"

Naruto looked down briefly but nodded. "I know I cannot learn the gentle fist without the Byakugan, but I have been able to use some of the movements and strikes. I..I hope you don't mind. I know the council would be angry with you if they found out, so I have tried not to use them, but the strikes I have chosen seem to fit perfectly."

Naruto tried not to look hopeful. He knew despite the fact that he was considered a son of the Hyuuga, he was still an outsider and didn't want his father to take any flak for "stealing" his adopted families style.

Hiashi looked at him then shook his head with a smirk before he suddenly tackled Naruto and began to tickle him. "Oh HO! So you have been taking things without permission? Take that you knave!"

Naruto screeched and tried to scramble away but Hiashi had him firmly on the floor and decided there would be no mercy…just as Hinata tackled him from the side and began to try and tickle him.

After learning Hiashi's weak points, it was a more even battle whenever they had a tickle fight, although as the rules state…daddy always wins.

He had his children on the floor gasping and laughing loudly in seconds, and Hizashi chuckled from the side of the room at his family's antics.

After a few moments, Izumi walked over and the children stared up at her imploringly but she merely shook her head. "I will not be joining the tickle fight today my children, I am sorry."

Hiashi then smirked as he ceased their torment and stood next to his wife. "Well your surprise was superb Naruto-kun…but your mother has one as well."

When they had caught their breath Naruto and Hinata looked at their parents eagerly. "What is it? Tell us?"

Izumi's smile was large and she waggled a finger at her children. "Now now…do not be impatient."

Izumi pretended to take a deep breath and the children both inhaled with her in anticipation. "Well…soon you will hear the soft step of a new life in the house."

Naruto and Hinata both looked excited as Naruto shouted. "No way! You found a way to bring Momma back?"

Hinata nodded her head eagerly, but the fallen look on their parents face told them they were wrong.

Since the incident as they called it, neither child had been able to summon the kyuubi. They wanted answers, they wanted to know why momma had turned on them, but it looked as if answers were still in the distant future. "No my children…but do not give up hope, we are still trying to find a way."

In truth Hiashi was stymied. He had exhausted every avenue he could try and had no idea what they could do on that particular subject…but he knew there was something not quite right about the last time the children had seen "momma".

"No my sillies…in a few months…you will have a little brother or sister."

Naruto's eyes got big at the same time as Hinata's. "Mother Izumi…you're…"

And she nodded with a big smile that was soon joined by Hiashi's as she took his hand. "Yes…I am two months with child."

Hinata ran over and hugged her mother and began babbling at her a mile a minute, but Naruto's face became stern as he looked at his father. "Daddy…" he said in a strangely threatening tone.

Hiashi blinked at his son and took an involuntary step back. "What my son?"

Naruto glowered at his adopted father before he waggled a finger at Hiashi. "Didn't I tell you no tongue?" before his face broke into a silly grin mischief dancing in his eyes.

Izumi and Hiashi both broke into a furious blush as Hizashi immediately hit the floor and his braying laughter echoed off the dojo walls.

Naruto saw his father's smirk despite the blush, and the mischievous twinkle that appeared in HIS eye, and thinking discretion was the better option took the most immediate path out of the dojo giggling the whole way as Hiashi recovered and chased him down the hall. "Come back here you brat…I have a tickle with your name on it!"

Hinata looked at her mother who looked back at her and they both shook their heads. "Men." They said in unison, as Hizashi's high pitched laughter followed them.

O

Sarutobi frowned as he went over the school roster again.

He was certain which students would graduate to become gennin…what he wasn't so certain about was the teams that Iruka had planned thus far.

Iruka had created an interesting dynamic, but one team in particular he did not like at all.

Iruka had planned for there to be 6 teams to make it to gennin…Sarutobi frowned as he read the names again and calculated from their apparent skills that there would only be four, maybe even just three new teams after the graduation exam.

What Iruka had established were six well balanced teams with skills that complimented each other very well…but Sarutobi was thinking there should be more specialized teams this year.

The Ino, Shika, Cho team in particular could be resurrected…not because of any specific talent, but because their parents worked so well together the dynamic should have carried over to the children.

And then there was the need of a new scout team since the last one did not fair so well on a mission to rice country.

If he was correct, the Inuzuka boy, the Aburame, and Hyuuga Hinata would fit that need perfectly. Of course Hiashi would fight tooth and nail against that, but Hiashi wasn't the hokage and right now they weren't on the best of terms.

Sarutobi sighed as he thought about it. The only problem with that would be the Aburame clan. The clan head and his son had gone on a journey to ice country based on the rumor of an insect that thrived during the dead of winter in sub zero temperatures. While Sarutobi was not very confident of it…he hoped they would be back in time for the graduation so he could put this team together…but at this point it was only a hope.

The last team would specifically be an assault team.

The last Uchiha would be the foundation of the team, and to bolster him would be the girl that couldn't keep her eyes off of him or her mouth shut it seemed.

Of course…she did have excellent chakra control and the highest marks in her class…the professor could only hope she didn't get herself or her entire team killed the first mission out of the village.

That left the last position on that team to fill.

Looking through the candidates Sarutobi chose the wild card that he had considered but later discarded.

If the boy could master his father's style and family jutsus then he would fit the mold perfectly, and his attitude would be strong enough to keep Sasuke focused on becoming better.

The professor nodded as he dropped the picture of the young man into the folder marked "team 7" as he lit his pipe. Now to get everything in motion. He thought with a smirk before he punched the intercom. "Miss Omaru…get me Iruka's assistant Mizuki please…as soon as possible."

The secretary answered and the professor closed the intercom before he looked at the picture again with a frown. "Strange name for a child." As he shrugged and tossed the picture back down again. The three pictures for team seven were Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and Onihara Umu

O

Naruto and Hinata had finished eating lunch, when one of the house servants knocked on their door. "Honorable son and daughter, you have a guest in the main entry."

Naruto blinked as Hinata shrugged. "We'll be right there."

Neither was expecting anyone, and they had no plans for the day…other then to cuddle since their father released them for the day. Hand in hand, they walked to the front entrance and smiled at the now welcome guest. "Ino! Hinata cried as she and Naruto went forward and gave their friend a hug. "What are you doing here?"

Ino smirked as she hugged them both in return then shrugged. "Well some of the kids from school are having a get together at the public pool…so since I am the town gossip, I was asked to get as many people together as I could."

Town gossip while usually not a good name to have, Ino wore with seeming pride. The only difference was she now never gossiped about her two friends standing in front of her.

Naruto looked at Hinata who nodded eagerly. "That sounds great! We haven't been swimming in some time."

Hinata looked at Naruto and frowned slightly. "We need to ask mother and father first Naru-kun…they may have plans that they haven't told us about yet.

Naruto's face fell slightly then nodded. "You're right Hina-chan…do you feel like waiting Ino while we go ask?"

Ino shrugged as she plopped down on one of the entry chairs. "I don't mind…I've already got my suit on see?" She said and lifted her shirt up to show off her bikini top.

Naruto blinked then blushed in embarrassment before he turned his gaze away, hands suddenly clasping in front of his crotch. "Um…yeah…"

Hinata knowing the problem smacked Ino's hand causing her to drop her shirt. "Ino! Don't tease Naru-kun. You know he still has trouble with THAT."

Ino smirked again as she looked at Naruto. "I know." She said, humor very obvious in her voice.

Naruto glowered at her, hands still at his crotch. "You are so going to get it for that Ino."

Ino faked an innocent look as her eyes traveled from Hinata to Naruto. "What? It's just a bathing suit…not like you saw my PANTIES." She said a little louder then needed.

Naruto blushed again then left the room to go find his father and Ino's laughter followed him. "Hehehe. He is so easy sometimes."

Hinata now glowered at her friend. "Ino…that was mean! Why do you do that to him?"

Hinata had made the mistake of sharing with Ino that Naruto had reached puberty, and was having a hard time with it…no pun intended.

Ino was very understanding, but since Naruto was the "prank master extraordinaire" she just had to get him the only way she could. "Oh Hinata you know I'm just teasing him. Besides, eventually the time will come and I won't be able to tease him like this any more. I'm just getting my licks in now while I can. Besides you know I wouldn't do anything to hurt Naruto…you guys are my buds."

Hinata nodded but still frowned at Ino. "I know…but I don't like to see Naru-kun like that."

Ino nodded slightly with a sigh. "I know…but I wouldn't do it if I thought he couldn't take it. Naruto isn't made of glass Hinata…besides, you know you like when he is like that…I'm just priming the pump for you."

Hinata blushed and she smacked Ino lightly on her arm. "Ino! Shut it before someone hears you!"

Ino giggled and waved Hinata off. "Ok, ok! Don't be such a worry wart!"

Before the banter could continue, Naruto came back in the room with a slight flush under his eyes, possibly from running. "Mother and father say it is fine, but we have to be back before dinner!"

Hinata looked at her fiancé then blinked in confusion. "Naru-kun…where you running?"

Naruto nodded then answered before she could ask. "Daddy threatened to tickle me again."

Hinata giggled and Ino just shook her head. "Well go get your suits! Times a wastin and I still have to ask Sasuke if he wants to go and get forehead."

Hinata frowned as she remembered how much she disliked Sakura, and Naruto frowned as he remembered how much he disliked the Uchiha.

Ino made them feel otherwise though. "Oh come on. Sasuke probably won't come because he would rather sit on his hands and feel sorry for himself, and Sakura will be completely lost without Sasuke around. It won't be that bad."

Naruto and Hinata exchanged glances before they nodded in agreement…what was the worst that could happen?

Famous last words.

O

What was the worst that could happen?

Well for starters Sasuke in a rare display decided he was bored and wanted to go.

The three waited outside the Uchiha district main gate until he finally stepped out with a towel over his shoulder and a grunt to the three before he locked the gate and they continued on. Naruto glanced at Hinata who looked at him with equal trepidation. Already the day was heading down slope.

The four walked to Sakura's house in silence until Ino couldn't take it anymore. "So Naruto…who do you want to team with when we graduate?"

Naruto looked thoughtful for a minute before he shrugged. "That's easy. Hinata-chan of course, and any other partner is fine. We will cover each others weakness with our strengths anyway."

Sasuke grunted before he shook his head. "And what if you all have the same weakness dobe?"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and frowned before he answered. "Well teme, then I guess we all have to get stronger in what we are weak at."

Sasuke glanced at Naruto for a moment before his eyes turned to the front again. "You think it's that easy?"

"It is if you want it to be. The only person that stops you from becoming stronger is you. If you don't believe in yourself then you will always be weak."

Sasuke's face scrunched up as if he was irritated, but anyone looking into his eyes would be able to tell he was lost in thought from that last statement.

Ino turned and frowned at both of them. "Oh come on this wasn't supposed to be a philosophical discussion, just four people making a decision. Can we try it again this time and leave the egos and egg head musings out of it please?"

Naruto smirked and Sasuke gave his trademark, "Hn." before Ino asked Hinata her opinion. "What do you think Hinata?" Hinata hmmed for a second. "Well," she began. "I think the important thing is being able to co-exist with your team mates. Like I wouldn't want to be on the same team as Kiba…he's too much of a perv."

Ino nodded eagerly. "I know!! Did you see when he was pretending to be asleep on his desk, but he was looking back at Ami trying to look up her skirt?"

Hinata gasped as her hand went to her mouth. "NO…way! Did Ami know?"

Ino shrugged then shook her head. "I don't know. If she did she didn't try and stop it. Or say anything…maybe she likes him."

Hinata made a face as Naruto snickered.

Ino stopped in the middle of the rode and looked at him. "And what is so funny about Kiba trying to see her panties?"

Naruto blinked then shrugged. "My otouto and I talk on a regular basis, and he explained a lot of things to me about boys and girls and relationships. If Kiba liked her he should have just said so…or if he wanted to see her panties he should have just asked…maybe she would have showed him."

Naruto said it as a joke…but Sasuke looked at him incredulously, Hinata turned her head away with a smirk, and Ino's eyes were as big as plates. "Wha…what? Are you kidding me?"

Naruto frowned in mock surprise. "What? If I asked Hina-chan to show me her panties I know she would."

Hinata blushed with a smile as Ino smacked his arm and he rubbed it slightly as if hurt. "That's different! She's your koishii! I expect you guys to do that sort of thing eventually." Ino huffed at him as she crossed her arms. With a pout. "Honestly Naruto…you just don't come out of nowhere and ask a girl to show you her panties."

Naruto winked at Sasuke and Hinata before in a quieter voice asked Ino. "Why?"

Ino frowned at him then shrugged her shoulders. "Because it's embarrassing…people might hear and then they would make fun of you or think you're a slut."

Naruto looked surprised before he smiled. "Oh is that all?"

Before she could reply Naruto leaned close to Ino and whispered the provocative sentence in her ear. "Ino…will you show me your panties?"

The effect was instantaneous.

Ino turned bright red and started playing with her index fingers for a moment as her eyes stared at the ground in front of her.

Thirty awkward seconds later, Naruto's laughter broke the silence as Ino looked up at him and her look of embarrassment turned into a glare. "NARUTO! THAT WASN'T FUNNY!!"

Naruto dodged the swipe she made for him as Hinata broke up into laughter as well, and even Sasuke smirked and let out a slight chuckle.

Naruto kept dodging and moving until Ino finally in a huff stamped her foot and gave up the chase.

Naruto still chuckling joined the little group again as Ino pouted. Hinata nudged her with an elbow. "Come on Ino-chan…you got Naru-kun earlier so it was only fair to get you back."

Ino growled at her but after a few moments she took a deep breath and sighed before she reached over and hugged Naruto around the shoulders. "Yeah I know. It just bugs me that he could think up a prank that fast."

Naruto reached an arm around Ino and hugged her back lightly but his eyes got big as Ino whispered to him with a blush. "And if you really want to see them I'll show you later."

Naruto's hands went instantly to his crotch before he looked in Ino's eyes which twinkled back at him.

Not sure what to do, Naruto's panic instincts took over as he threw his arms in the air and ran screaming down the street away from Ino.

Hinata looked at the girl and shook her head. "You know he is just going to get you back worse later."

Ino smirked as she watched her friend still running down the street. "I know…but I think it was worth it."

What Ino didn't mention were two very important things.

One: the thought of Naruto looking at her the way he did with Hinata made her feel warm inside.

Two: despite all of her mother's talks of being a lady and how to act, she didn't mind the thought of showing Naruto her panties. In fact it made her feel all giggly and silly the way she used to feel when she looked at Sasuke.

The future was looking interesting.

O

The day progressed as days do with the majority of their class swimming and playing games at the pool in the warm afternoon sun.

At some point toward late afternoon, Sasuke walked over and sat on a chair next to Naruto and put on some sunglasses while Hinata and Ino played a game of freeze tag in the pool with some of the other girls.

It wasn't long before the last Uchiha surprised Naruto. "You are a lot stronger then I took you for."

Naruto looked at him, not sure where this was coming from or even where it was supposed to go. "Ok…thanks."

Sasuke nodded but continued immediately afterwards. "I'm sure you've heard about me and my family." When Naruto nodded the last Uchiha frowned. "I need to get stronger so I can avenge them…how did you get so strong?"

Naruto blinked in confusion as the boy hadn't insulted him or said anything to seem superior or stuck up.

"Well," he began slowly. "My father and his brother train me and Hinata-chan very hard. He wants us to be the best that we can and he teaches us many things. Hinata has already mastered a lot of the clan's techniques, and I am always trying to be better then I am."

Sasuke stared ahead for a few moments not saying anything and Naruto thought their conversation was done before Sasuke broke into his thoughts again. "So that helps? Having someone train with you all the time?"

Naruto nodded as he studied the boy next to him. "Yes I think so. If not for my father and uncle I don't think I would be as good as I am now. They teach me and show me when I make mistakes in whatever I'm doing. In fact I'm positive without them and mother Izumi I would be dressed in god awful clothes and loud and obnoxious."

Sasuke pictured Naruto in something gaudy and claiming to be someone important with every other word and actually snickered louder then normal catching Naruto's surprised attention. After Sasuke composed himself he looked at Naruto. "Maybe we could spar sometime…you know…for fun?"

Naruto blinked before he broke into a big grin and nodded. "Sure…just for fun." He repeated and Sasuke followed up with his trademark comment. "Hn."

Hinata waved at Naruto and he smiled and waved back at that moment. "Come on Naru-kun!"

Naruto smirked as he got up and threw his towel down on the chair. "Catch you later."

Sasuke nodded and Naruto got to the edge of the pool and was about to dive in, when things completely left his control.

Naruto felt a tug on his trunks, just as they hit his ankles.

Then he felt a slight bump on his lower back and backside which felt strangely like four paws as he fell forward into the pool.

The last act of humiliation was when his swimming trunks left his feet.

Naruto immediately stood up and looked back only to see Kiba smirking at him as he dangled his swim trunks far out of his reach, Akamaru yapping at the edge of the pool by Kiba's feet. "Gotcha baka!"

Most of the students around laughed and pointed at him, and while Naruto was slightly red faced, he wouldn't let it get to him. "Alright Kiba…you got me. Give me back my shorts."

Kiba pretended he hadn't heard him so Naruto tried again. "Don't play Kiba…you all got a good laugh, but I want my shorts!"

Kiba pointed to the object in question with a look of mock surprise. "Oh these? You want these?"

At Naruto's nod Kiba nodded then turned and hung his swimming trunks on the sign next to the gate. "There you go."

Naruto growled in frustration as he walked to the edge of the pool…oblivious to the words around him.

Ino looked at Hinata with an incredulous look, a blush firmly fixed on her face. "Hinata…is he always like that?"

Hinata blinked as she looked at Ino. "Like what?"

Ino's hands spread apart and moved back and forth before she said more quietly. "His donger…is it always that big?"

Hinata blushed slightly, but was not ashamed of sharing this secret with her friend. "Oh no…"

Ino sighed and breathed in relief.

"Sometimes it's bigger and harder."

Which of course caused Ino to almost swallow her tongue as she began to gag and cough.

It took a few seconds but Hinata finally got her to calm down. "But Hinata…it's like a fire hose!"

Hinata smacked Ino on the shoulder before she laughed. "It is not Ino stop exaggerating!"

Ino shook her head. "Uh uh…I'm serious! That would split you in half…it would split anyone in half!"

Hinata smacked Ino again before she blushed slightly. "Ino not so loud…Naru-kun gets self conscious of it…you know that!"

Ino closed her mouth then nodded.

She didn't want to hurt Naruto's feelings, but by Kami Hinata had caught her a big un!

Ino only shook her head as Hinata looked at her fiancé and Ino did as well. Both for similar yet different reasons.

Ino for the most part was a good girl…but her father had instilled in her a drive if you will to always be confident, even if you're wrong.

Ino's mom however had drilled into her much as Izumi used to drill into Hinata about proper behavior, being a lady, and what was alright and what wasn't.

Ino however had her own copies of Icha Icha which no one but she knew about and despite her mother's teachings…Icha Icha was winning in the influence department.

That and coupled with the fact that she could still get her father to get her whatever she wanted to an extent, she began to have thoughts of another sort.

These thoughts would surface more later…and their subsequent consequences.

Naruto was on the verge of climbing out of the pool and walking to get his shorts despite the fact he was butt naked, when a towel was dangled in front of him.

An odd looking boy, one Naruto had never seen before stood there holding the towel. What made him look odd was he was completely bald, and had little raised bumps on the top of his head, and his body was lean. Undeniably he had good muscle tone for his size and though he didn't smile, he radiated a confident aura around him. "Here, you may want to cover up before you exit the pool."

Naruto nodded as he took the towel and wrapped it around himself before he climbed up and out. "Thanks. I thought I was gonna have to flash everyone to get my shorts."

The boy placed a hand before his chest, his thumb facing inward and fingertips pointing towards his chin as he bowed his head. "Budda's name be praised. I am only glad to have been of service to you."

Naruto blinked as he had heard this phrase before, but had little understanding of what it meant. As Naruto grabbed his shorts and pulled them on under the towel, Kiba came over and began to act like his usual self…in other words an ass. "Hey what's the big idea? You ruined a good prank, I planned that all day!"

The boy looked at him but his face hadn't changed. "Truly a shame that I have disrupted such a careful and well laid plan…I am sure once your head stops smoking you can create another."

Kiba nodded still angry, but Naruto snickered lightly as he tied the strings to his trunks tighter then they were before…just in case.

It took a few seconds before Kiba frowned. "Hey you insulted me!"

The boy in question bowed his head again and repeated his earlier phrase. "Budda's name be praised. No insult is given where none is taken. I apologize. I had not realized it would be so easy to insult you."

Kiba nodded in satisfaction and turned to walk away before he stopped and thought about it and looked at him again his brain seemed to go into overdrive before he waved his hand in dismissal and continued to walk away.

Naruto smirked after him before he looked at the newcomer again. "Nice moves. Kiba is a hot head, but he isn't really a bad sort I guess."

The boy nodded as Naruto stuck out his hand. "I'm Hyuuga Naruto."

The boy took Naruto's hand and shook it. "I am Onihara Umu. My family and I come from a distant land to spread the word of the wanderer."

Naruto blinked as he considered what the boy said. "I'm sorry…the wanderer?"

Umu nodded as his hand came up. In my native land, we believe in the teachings of Budda who is proclaimed to be a wanderer who teaches wisdom to others in his travels." (Yes I know it is said he isn't a wanderer…but I like the idea of it since I was told that when I was younger and I'm not changing it.)

Naruto nodded in interest before he made another comment. "I see. I didn't know that, but I have another question and I hope I don't insult you."

Umu nodded as he waited patiently. "Umu is a strange name…why did your parents name you that?"

The boy sighed before he responded. "Budda's name be praised. My father believes that names such as these inspire the person to be better in their life, to strive for extra and through their achievements make the name mean something better then it sounds."

Naruto nodded in thought. I believe that most people would call it character building."

Naruto nodded in understanding even if he didn't agree with it. I mean…who would name their kid "to rot"?

The boy bowed to Naruto again "I must go now, but I hope to encounter you again Hyuuga-san." To which Naruto replied.

"Thank you but it's just Naruto…and I hope to see you again too."

Umu turned and walked away to Sakura's cry of, "I can see his butt!"

Which was true as Umu was wearing a wrap that looked similar to what sumo wrestlers wear.

Hinata leaned on Naruto's shoulder and asked him. "Who was that Naru-kun?"

Naruto shrugged. "His name is Umu…and he seems like an interesting person."

Hinata smirked as Ino came up and leaned on Naruto's other shoulder while frowning slightly at the strange name.

O

Later that night, an ANBU operative was leafing through the documents on the Hokage's desk until he came to one particular folder which was the roster of the children currently in Iruka's class. As his finger travelled down the page, he came to one name in particular that was scratched out in red ink.

With a silent nod the operative closed the folder and waited to the count of twenty before he leapt out of the window and walked across the ledge until he came to a point across from the closest building. At that point he counted to fifteen before he leapt across and landed on the roof of the building and took off running as soon as he touched down.

The message he had to deliver was very important…and as he ran towards the Hyuuga estates, he affirmed to himself that only Hyuuga Hiashi would receive it.

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Next Episode: Truth or dare?