To Become A Chunin

Chapter 25

Himatsu's Answer

Naruto walked slowly down the quiet hall toward the Hokage's office. Silently, moving at high speed, a small shape flew at him and wrapped around his neck. "Naruto!! We did it, we did it! Oh thank you, Naruto-kun, thank you. I made it. I made chunin. The Lords and examiners were for me and the chunin were split, but even though the council said no, the Fifth said Yes! Fu-Ai and Sharinmizu made it too. I know they got to pass you, too. Father will be so happy. I believe you, I believe you, I believe you can do anything, Naruto."

The enthusiasm was so infectious, Naruto had to laugh. "No, Hanabi, you did it with your skill and desire. I just let them see how amazing your jutsus are. With any luck, now Hiashi can hold off making a decision at least until Hinata turns 18. Congratulations. Got to go. Old Lady Tsunade is waiting."

"Naruto, come in." Tsunade was at her desk with Shizune, Sakura, Izumo and Kotetsu standing behind. Ibiki, Raido, and Anko stood with Shikamaru, who represented the Chunin. "You know that winning the Chunin Tournament does not guarantee that you will be chosen as a chunin. While the Lords' comments were enthusiastic, the council has voted against your promotion. On the other hand, Shikamaru informs me that the Chunin strongly support you. Since that is the case, as Hokage it is my duty to inform you that you are now a Leaf Village Chunin."

"Yes!! I am the greatest." Naruto's shouts made everyone cover their ears. "I'm number one. Watch out old lady. I'll be Hokage before long. You believe it!"

"Enough." Tsunade's scream was even louder. "You are an adult now, behave like one. A 16 year old chunin is an adult shinobi with all the rights of any other citizen and the responsibilities of a squad captain. If you are not ready for the responsibility of leading the genin under you and protecting their lives, then you should decline and leave positions of leadership to chunin who will take them seriously."

"I'm sorry old... I mean Hokage... uh, sama. You know I do anything to keep others from getting hurt. I took good care of Konohamaru and Moegi, at least until that plant guy snuck up behind them. Ask Raido if he was easy to beat."

Tsunade drummed her fingers on her desk. "The rest of you are excused, thank you. Naruto and Sakura please stay." Shizune looked back uncertainly as she closed the door. "Naruto, I need more from you than just carrying out your missions. I need your obedience if I am to protect you and the village. Do you know why the council opposed both you and Hanabi when they are aware of your strengths? They are afraid."

"During the wars, out of necessity, our young geniuses were passed and promoted as quickly as possible. From this we obtained many excellent jonin, such as Guy and Kakashi. But there were also failures. Many died too young. Others could not accept the death and destruction a chunin sees in war or in B-rank missions. (In the end, I couldn't.) But worse, some see their own strength and think they can bend the world to their own view of peace. Thus we get Orochimaru and Itachi and Pein and the Akatsuki."

"After the Uchiha tragedy, the Third set a rule that genin younger than 12 should no longer take the Chunin exam. I believe Naruto understands the special circumstances which led me to allow Hanabi take the exam. The council strongly opposed the exception and only relented when I agreed to limit her to C and D-rank assignments until her next birthday."

"The council remains concerned about you, Naruto. Sakura knows what the four tails is capable of. They see a day when the nine tails would emerge and destroy the village. I have pledged my life that you would never allow that to happen. They also fear you will be captured and give our enemies a vicious weapon. Bah. We take that chance every time we send a Hyuuga or a sharingan user on a mission. But only a month ago Akatsuki entered the village to try and capture you. They will not give up until they have you, or they are destroyed."

"So this is the deal I have for you. You will take the assignments you are given without complaint, even if it is watching genin on D-rank missions. I will not limit you on B and C-rank missions of my choosing. But you will never attempt to go after Akatsuki or Sasuke Uchiha without proper Jonin backup. You either agree or I find some babysitting jobs appropriate for a genin, got it."

Naruto stared straight back at her. "Yes, your high-ness. I will be a good little chunin and do your make-work jobs. In return, when you get a lead on Sasuke or Akatsuki, I go on those missions, right, properly chaperoned by Kakashi or Yamato. OK."

"Good," Tsunade was smiling. "Sakura, where's that list? When your parents died the Third and the council, rightly or wrongly decided to withhold knowledge of your lineage from the general public, and unfortunately also from you. Since I have just declared you to be an adult, we have no right to any longer deny you this information."

"Sakura has a key to a storage locker containing your parents belongings. This list shows mostly furniture and household items. This scroll is a signed release for the chief armorer to allow access to personal weapons and certain other armaments that have been kept secured. I suggest these be kept in the armory until you are fully trained in each."

"This scroll is a directive to the chief librarian to transfer scrolls and documents in the secure files from the names of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze to Naruto Uzumaki. Most jonin and chunin with secure documents keep them in the library when not needed. I suggest you do the same. This is the deed to a small brick cottage that is currently under rent. Sakura will escort you to Homura Mitokado's office for an explanation of Minato's accounts."

Outside, Naruto leaned against the wall. "It's too much, Sakura. The tournament, then the parties. Now I own a house and the Fourth's weapons... and a library... My parents' books. Sakura, I never owned nothin' but the clothes I wore and the scrolls in my pouch. I don't know what to do next."

Sakura took charge. "First Homura. The money isn't important to you now, but you are responsible for it. Second, Library. There could be some personal papers from your Mom and Dad. I'll bet there are jutsu scrolls that you can spend years studying. Next, Storage locker. We can find replacements for the broken furniture which you scavenged for your apartment. Naruto, we might find pictures, too. Then we take a walk past your cottage. Someday you might want more than that little apartment. Save the armory for last. You don't need new toys."

-- --

Standing in the crowd outside the Hokage's residence, Shikamaru began to lecture. "Naruto, just keep quiet. This took long, bothersome, negotiations and it is easier for people to accept if the Lords and Kage's get the credit. The politics sucks anyway, but those three know where the idea came from."

Tsunade stepped forward. "Kazekage Gaara-Sama and Leader Shibuki and I have an announcement. Following the highly successful Chunin Selection Tournament, it has become obvious that we all have much which we can learn from each other. While it is obvious that the Waterfall Village has water techniques superior to those taught in the Fire and Sand Villages, Leader Shibuki has expressed a desire to improve the training in other types of jutsu. Therefore we have agreed to a training exchange program between our three villages."

"Leader Shibuki has agreed to establish a training academy in a small town near the Waterfall Village. This academy will be run by Iruka Umino, one of the Leaf's most experienced trainers and a staff of top Leaf Chunin. Kazekage-sama."

"The Village Hidden in the Sand wholeheartedly supports this effort to upgrade the skills of all our allied shinobi. To lead our trainers in the Waterfall Country, we have assigned Fu-Ai as instructor in Air chakra techniques and taijutsu. Leader Shibuki."

"Thank you Kazekage-sama, Hokage-sama. Chunin Sharinmizu has agreed to teach Water jutsu to the Leaf. Upon my return to the Waterfall Village, an equally accomplished chunin will be dispatched to the Sand."

Naruto placed a hand on Himatsu's shoulder. "There you go. You asked for instant strength. Shikamaru gave you a squad of top Sand and Leaf chunin, even if the muckity-mucks hog all the credit. You wanted to get stronger, this will bring your training up to our standards. And we get Sharinmizu, even if the genin won't see much of him, considering the number of Leaf jonin and chunin who have expressed interest."

"Shikamaru-senpai, you are as great as Naruto promised." Himatsu bowed very formally, then lifted Naruto in a bear hug. "Naruto-kun, I bet you can do anything."

-- --

"Just set the couch along that wall and unroll the rug." Hinata wore a bandanna over her hair while sweeping dirt from the corners. Kiba and Shino managed to put the large couch in place without dropping the rug or lamp. Akimaru loped in with a dresser tied to his back.

Naruto bumped a kitchen table into the door jam causing four chairs balanced on top to teeter precariously. "Sakura, what do I need all this for. I got by just fine before."

Sakura hung a picture of a blond man and a pretty, very pregnant red-haired young woman above the couch. "Naruto, you idiot. How do you expect your friends to come visit you if all you have is one rickety second-hand chair to sit on. There is enough furniture in that storage unit to fill a house."

Hinata spoke up, "Naruto-kun, your apartment does look ever so much nicer. It would be a very nice place to visit." She put her hand over her mouth.

Naruto responded, "Sure you guys can come over anytime you like. Hinata, do you need to set down? Your face is all red."

-- --

Tsunade detailed the assignment, "Since Ebisu is going to be in the Waterfall Village for the next month helping Iruka set up the new academy, you are being assigned as temporary sensei supervising the team."

Naruto exploded, "That wasn't the deal. You want me tied to the Leaf Village watching little kids do D-rank missions just to keep those old fogeys happy. Well I'll do it because I can't refuse these guys, but you owe me. You'll find us a couple of good C missions or I'll be in here every day makin' your life hell."

Tsunade was in his face. "I'm Hokage here and you take the assignments I give you. If and when I give out a C, it's my choice. Now get over to that kindergarten and take care of those children. OUT!"

Outside Udon was apologetic. "Naruto, I'm sorry you are stuck with us. It's not really her fault. For some reason my grandparents keep bugging the Fifth to keep you here." Naruto smiled.

Moegi was hurt. "That was pretty harsh. I didn't know it was such a burden to hang around us." He smiled wider.

Konohamaru saw him. "Guys, look at him. Boss looks like a fox with the key to the chicken coop. I think he just got us a promise of a C-mission."

After a couple seconds of blank faces, the cheering started. "Way to go Boss." "You're the greatest." "I'll never doubt you."

Naruto walked along with his hands behind his head. "Heh, heh, heh. You caught me. I don't mind hanging around awhile. I've got some reading to do. I just don't want the old lady to think she's in charge. Shadow Clone. Head over to the kindergarten. I have to meet Sakura at the library.

The End

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Sakura took a stack of small books out of a cardboard box. "These look like notebooks. Maybe it's your Dad's jutsu notes... Doesn't look like a male hand. Dated 16 years ago."

September 1 – Sensei came by for a visit. Flash is always so happy to see him. I think it reminds him of the happy-go-lucky times when he didn't have so many people demanding his time. He can't stand all the paperwork and would rather take a suicide mission than deal with the council. At least the elders retired, but now he has his predecessor's teammates to deal with.

Sensei never thinks he has done enough. The big pervert just can't recognize what he means to Flash and me. He was so touched when we told him that we were naming the baby after a character in his book. He immediately decided that made him Godfather. It was so cute how flustered he got when Flash told him he was the finest shinobi we knew. I just hope little Naruto grows up like Minato and Jiraiya, except maybe without the pervyness.

"Naruto! This is your Mother's diary. These are all diaries going back, oh, eight years. See, Kushina Uzumaki. That's her name. You can find out what your parents were like. Oh Naruto, I'm so happy for you."

If you would like to discover the fate of the Whirlpool Village and find how

Kushina and Minato met and fell in love, please read

Kushina's Diary.