Naruto was in ramen heaven. Because the Suna Council preferred to get everything out of the way in order to minimize the outsider influence, they had their Ranking Exam during the Ramen Festival. Kakashi had promised to buy fifty bowls of ramen for the boy if he managed to get the Wind Master badge.
What Naruto didn't know was that earning an Village master badge had a side benefit for foreign shinobi.
If he earned that, he was allowed to get rare wind style scrolls preselected by Suna Jounin, even if he wasn't from Suna. It was one of the few reasons that shinobi from other villages tried out for ranking exams outside their village, even if they didn't get anything out of it aside from a few badges.
They got scrolls that were normally kept 'in-house' as it were.
Kakashi's main reason for allowing Naruto to actually join this exam was simple really. He heard Kurenai had tested his chakra affinity less than a week of having the kids, and Naruto had gotten wind with some earth and water. She sent him to Asuma for Wind training, and he was making great progress.
Considering Kakashi was willing to feed his ramen addiction, Naruto made a point to get Gaara and Hinata on his team. She was a water type, but since there was an abundance of those in Konoha, she would help Naruto get more scrolls in exchange for some rare Pokémon on her team. It was a fair trade.
Gaara just wanted to be on the same team as Naruto because he had heard about his luck and how every time he went on a C or above mission, the team came back with an even larger Pokémon team than when they left. He had only gotten a full team through patience and he wanted some variety. Most people were terrified of Chomper now, since his reputation of biting people in the ass had yet to go away.
The fact Gaara 'encouraged' Chomper to give certain people speculative looks did not help either. Temari only allowed it because most of the time those people turned out to be complete dicks that needed to be reminded who the ninja was.
Kankuro was still too terrified to sleep anywhere near Chomper when he was outside the seal ball.
(Temari had put her foot down and made Gaara put his first Pokémon in a seal ball when he evolved into Tyranitar. He was simply too big to fit in the gourd now, now matter how much Gaara wanted to claim strength training.)
At least Nozomi still lived in the gourd. She was his best snuggle buddy since the seal was fixed.
(Temari would later trade Naruto pictures of this in exchange for Jiraiya signing her books.)
Naruto once again aced the computer exams. Even if the subject was slightly different (this time focusing more on terrain and attacks, and he would learn later that was the exam for jounin applicants) he still got a perfect score.
Gaara got a slightly lower score (he had only missed one, to the amusement of Naruto) and Hinata came in fifth. To be fair, she had less time to read the same books the boys did. And her family only let her train her team her way if she was outside the compound.
As it was, her Lucario had a deep distaste for the Hyuuga elders. When Hinata finally gave up hope on those idiots and lead a mass rebellion, Rio would be at the forefront of the attacks.
It really, really didn't like the elders.
When they were lead out to the survival area (a large portion of the desert with a few man made oasis strategically placed) Naruto noted something in the distance.
"What the heck is that?"
"Scoreboard," said Gaara unconcerned.
"Come again?" said Naruto, not sure he heard that right.
"Unlike Konoha, here you have to fight your fellow examinees in order to pass. Capturing adds to the score total, but the main way to pass is to beat the others. Healing stations are at the oasis, and the transfer system is put on a restriction to three switch outs for three Pokémon."
"So when does the Wind Master come into play?" asked Hinata.
"Those with the highest scores get taken to a special arena where they battle the Wind Master for the coveted Wind Badge. Beat the Master, and you automatically pass the exam and get to skip the third portion," said Gaara.
"Is this teamwork oriented?" asked Naruto.
"Double battles are acceptable, but the full team can't gang up on the Master. You and Hinata could team up and I deal with him after you," said Gaara.
"Hmm... I have a plan. Hinata, you stick close to me until we get to the Wind Master stage, and we'll double battle him. In the meantime, help me look for a Trapinch," said Naruto.
"Why Trapinch?" asked Hinata.
"Present for Shino. Said he would trade one of his family's Combee for a Trapinch."
"Why would you want a Combee?" asked Gaara.
"Free honey. If you build a hive for Combee, more gather and make a ton of it. Do you have any idea how much Honey costs at the store?" said Naruto.
"I didn't know you liked honey Naruto," said Hinata.
"It's a Pokémon attractant. Plus I like sweet things."
Gaara noted with amusement at the small amount of blood coming from Hinata's nose and correctly guessed the reason why.
Four days later, Naruto, Hinata and Gaara were lead into the Wind Master area, having beaten everyone else in the grounds at least once.
Naruto had added to his team, though only three this time. He had found a brother and sister Trapinch, and, unwilling to separate them had caught both. After that he ran into a baby Cubone who had recently hatched, and had taken it in.
He planned to keep the mischievous boy Trapinch, as the sweet tempered sister would be perfect for Shino.
Gaara was rather pleased with his newest catch.
A Vibrava, Lunatone and Corphish (it had ended up in an oasis by mistake and was unable to leave) were now his newest additions.
Hinata was happy with her new team Pokémon, even if she had filled her original one up months ago thanks to Naruto's luck.
She had a happy-go-lucky Cacnea, a lazy Onix, and a shy Nidoran (female).
They had only used the transfer system once (and that was only because Hinata wanted her new Nidoran on her immediate team and Naruto wanted his baby Cubone on his) and because Naruto kept a good stock of healing supplies, they never had to stop for aid.
(Gaara neglected to tell them that it had a limited supply available...didn't stop Naruto from raiding it for extras anyway. Besides, it was cheaper than buying antidotes for Wind Country poisons.)
As it was, Kakashi had left a message for Naruto and Hinata that they would be leaving as soon as they passed the exam. Apparently the client was getting bored and had heard of a circus with a saber toothed tiger. They were heading that way soon.
Naruto really didn't want to deal with a pissy Tsunade because he had gone into the exam while on a mission. The only reason he was even allowed in was because the team was large enough to cover them and the client had cleared it.
He still had no idea what that form was though.
As Naruto and Hinata decimated the poor Jounin (who was already sweating bullets because he had to face Chomper next) Gaara was off to the side reading one of Naruto's books. For someone who hated reading Shinobi history, he could write an interesting pre-Cataclysm book.
It was one of the few classes that the entire class enjoyed. Probably because Naruto hated reading boring books, so he tried to keep it interesting. It was an odd combination that worked.
Gaara finally went, and as predicted the fight wasn't long. Chomper was one of the few Tyranitar's in the village, and easily the biggest.
This was because Gaara took immaculate care of his friend, and the Everstone he had put on the Larvitar's neck had fallen off at the perfect time.
By the time the match ended, Gaara was no longer as bored. Naruto casually walked up to Gaara.
"So when do we get our shiny new badges?"
"Tomorrow, before lunch. Aiming that last Spike Cannon was rather amusing by the way."
"Did you see the way he looked like he was about to cry?" cackled Naruto. Gaara grinned...Naruto had been aiming low. Very low for a guy anyway.
Gaara and Naruto were eating ramen when the Delibird brought them the badges. It was the last night of the ramen festival, and Naruto intended to enjoy it.
Naruto stared at his shiny new badge and a thought occurred to him.
"Only three more to go," he said.
"Three more what?"
"Master Badges. I get three more, and I get in the running for the Hokage seat."
Gaara stared at him.
"Why would you need Master badges to become Hokage?"
Naruto went into what would later be called his 'History Mode'.
"Back before the Cataclysm, there were four trainers called the Elite Four. Now those who were able to beat those 4 trainers were given the chance to fight the Champion. If they beat him, they were considered Elite Pokémon Trainers and their names went down in history. When they recreated the Gyms of old through Ranking contests, it was agreed that should anyone ever succeed in getting all five Master badges from the five biggest villages, they would be placed in the running for the Kage of their village."
"And since you would have trouble earning it the usual way, you decided to try the one no one has ever succeeded at?" said Gaara.
"I already have two. Just need three more."
"Do you really believe your village would allow you to become Kage?"
"The previous Mizukage was like us, so I don't see why not," said Naruto.
"...What?"
"Zabuza mentioned it. Said Yagura was like us, only he had the three tails."
"I never knew that," said Gaara.
Naruto nodded.
"Anyway I have to join my team. I'll have Delia send you mail," said Naruto.
"Only you would stumble onto a Delibird in trouble. Still, at least you don't have to deal with former nukenin just to send messages," said Gaara.
The Delibird Express was run almost exclusively by former ninja. The only reason the Iron Samurai didn't kick them out was because in exchange for letting the ninja run the business in known neutral territory, they got a good cut.
Naruto grinned and gave Gaara a thumbs up as he walked towards the caravan. Gaara gave him a wave back.
Naruto was quick to declare "NOT IT!" when it came time to guard the caravan. He wanted to see the circus too!
"Damn you..." said Zabuza. Mainly because he wasn't quick enough to avoid getting roped into guard duty.
On the plus side, being around the brat managed to finally land him a Lapras, which he had been wanting for years, but never had the time to find.
Already the volunteering to join the brat was worth it.
Still, at least he had something to do, as Naruto had provided entertainment in the form of a fantasy novel he was writing. Apparently writing was quickly becoming his best source of income, so Naruto decided to branch out.
Zabuza didn't mind proofreading for the brat, because for the most part it didn't have many errors. Unlike Icha Icha, Naruto had a basic idea of what grammar and spelling was.
Naruto fully planned to knock Jiraiya's crappy books off the top spot.
He heard clapping, and saw the chibi patrol come out.
"We're changing shifts," said Naruto.
Zabuza grinned. He tossed the manuscript back to the blonde.
"No errors I could see, and it was a good read," he said.
Naruto grinned. He pulled out a whistle and waited for Zabuza to leave before he blew it. A Pidgeotto appeared with the Delibird Express vest on it.
Naruto wrapped the manuscript and tossed it in the air. It had the publisher's address on it and a note inside. The Pidgeotto snatched the package and left.
Naruto was about to board the boat when he heard a cry. He held out his hand and a letter dropped. He read it and grinned. The Pidgeotto landed on his arm and he paid it a tip in cash and Flying-Type treats. The bird Pokémon thanked him before flying off.
"What was that about Naruto-kun?" asked Hinata.
"Publisher accepted the new novel. Should be out by the time we get back. And everyone on this mission with me gets a free copy."
"And yet another reason why I like you brat," said Zabuza.
"What was it about?" asked Kakashi.
"...You didn't read the copy I lent you?" said Naruto disappointed.
"He read that third rate porn again," said Neji.
Naruto twitched.
"Sannin or not, that crap he puts out offends me greatly. Read it around me at your own peril," growled Naruto.
Kakashi sweatdropped.
"Offends the author in you, eh brat?" snickered Zabuza.
"Damn straight it does! I've seen his mission reports and some of his spy reports! It's so full of errors that it makes me gag!"
"Plus I have Croaker with me too, and he loves to Poison Jab anyone he sees reading it," said Naruto.
Obito laughed at the look on Kakashi's face. He had been the first one to read Naruto's new book and he loved it. The two acted like brothers, with Obito the older.
They got along better than Kakashi ever did. It was a miracle.
Plus there was the fact they both loved pranks. Kakashi had kept count of how many times someone had been pranked on the way to Moon, and so far the number was 137. Not bad for a pair of brats.
"DAMMIT! I HATE STORMS!" roared Naruto.
"This coming from the kid named Maelstrom?" retorted Obito.
"BITE ME!"
Finally Naruto got fed up and took out his flute. With the way things were going, he would sweat to Arceus that this was Lugia's doing.
"What are you doing?!" shouted Zabuza. He was used to storms on sea, but not this bad.
"Calming Lugia down! Every time one comes up, a forty day storm crops up soon after!" yelled Naruto.
(Play flute song from Pokémon 2000)
The storm slowly started to calm down, but only a little. It was enough for the captain to get the ship under control and the circus to get the animals in. They nearly lost Chamm and Kiki, if not for the actions of the Prince's son and Obito.
(Naruto was too busy keeping the storm calm through his flute.)