Lost Chapter 24

"So, Dad, we're sparring with only the teams that are about our age, right?" Neville, Naruto, and Harry were sitting side by side on the couch of the rooms they were living in for a few days.

"Yes. You are going to spar with Teams Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten." Neville and Harry looked at each other.

"Oh joy." Harry grimaced. The two had yet to take Kiba up on his offer of coming and hanging out with the ones that weren't fangirls or broody.

"So am I to assume that your first meeting with them didn't go well?" Minato smirked while Naruto looked confused.

Harry winced. He still had problems hearing out of the ear that she had burst. Minato chuckled at the boys' discomfort.

"Don't worry. The senseis of these teams are explaining the rules to them tonight." Naruto raised an eyebrow. Minato chuckled.

"Yes, I'll tell you the rules too." Neville grimaced. Minato had been like this ever since Harry and Neville had come back from meeting the other teams, Harry would have suspected his dad had been drinking, except that he had never seen his dad drink. Ever.

"Okay," Minato visibly calmed down, "rule number one: you will stop when the sensei calls stop. Failure to do so will result in disqualification from the mini tournament." Harry nodded and looked at Neville, who was slightly pale.

"Rule number two: No lethal moves, no moves that will permanently damage your opponent, and no moves that will scar your opponent for life." Naruto blushed, he knew his dad was referring to him on that last one, Harry had never done some of the things Naruto had done when they were little. Such as, an improvised version of the henge…

"Rule number three: you will not fight until you are told to. Remember that this is only a spar. There is no chance that you will be matched against each other right now, so don't worry." Harry and Naruto visibly calmed. Neither had wanted to fight the other.

"Okay. That's it for rules." Minato looked at the clock. "It is now bedtime." The boys looked at the clock as well. It was almost nine-thirty. They would be up at five-thirty the next morning. They all stood up and Minato gestured Harry over to him.

"Let me see your ear Harry." Harry tilted his head so that his father could see it.

"Hm. Neville did a rather good job, but I imagine it still is rather difficult to hear out of it, yes?" Harry grimaced and nodded. Minato sighed.

"Okay, stand still. Since you got this after you passed the second stage, I shouldn't get into trouble for healing it." Harry stood very still. His father wasn't the greatest at healing, at least with chakra, so it was best to stay absolutely still. True to his suspicions, his father had taken out his wand and was waving it in patterns near Harry's head. A warm and fuzzy feeling later as well as a sharp pain, Minato stashed his wand again and poked Harry in the forehead.

"All done. Can you hear better?" Harry smiled and hugged his dad before scampering off to his bed.

/

Naruto grimaced as he rolled out of bed. He then had to move really quickly to avoid Harry's foot heading for his face as his brother sat up on the mat next to him.

"You know, I'm right here Harry!" Harry yawned, completely ignoring Naruto's pout.

"Morning Nev." Said boy sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"How did you know I was awake?" Naruto smirked.

"Breathing, it wasn't even enough for you to be sleeping." Neville grimaced.

"Oh. Nevermind then. Sensei said for us all to come down to the cafeteria when we're dressed." Neville stood and watched as Naruto tried to stand only to get smacked in the face by Harry's foot.

"Dammit Harry!"

/

Neville yawned as he sat across from Minato at one of the long tables in the cafeteria. Nobody else was there yet.

"Are the other two up yet?" Neville nodded, still yawning.

"Good." The pair lapsed into silence while waiting for the other two to arrive.

"Hey Dad." Naruto flopped into the chair next to Minato. Harry sat carefully next to Neville on the other side of the table. Minato looked up from the scroll he was reading and smirked behind his mask.

"Okay. I have to tell you boys some very important news. First, Naruto, Harry, what I am going to say will affect the pair of you a lot more than it will affect Neville." Naruto nodded while Harry blinked in confusion.

"You know how I said I would return to Konoha when the time was right?" The two nodded and Neville returned to his book.

"Alright, the Sandaime offered me position of Hokage again. He wishes to retire at the end of the exams." Naruto whistled in shock while Harry just blinked a lot.

"That-" Naruto swallowed heavily, "-makes a lot of sense." Harry nodded. This explained everything, the forced integration with the other Konoha shinobi, their dad being here a lot more than he used to be, yeah.

"But, what will that mean for us?" Harry flinched as Minato reached out to touch his shoulder.

"Nothing will change much, Harry." Minato pulled his hand back, "We will just be living in Konoha during the summers, you two will still go to Hogwarts, as much as I hate that place-" Harry interrupted his dad.

"Dad, why do you hate Hogwarts so much? I mean, I absolutely love it there." Minato sighed, to be so innocent.

"Harry, it's not really Hogwarts that I hate, I loved it there when I went there. I just don't care much for Professor Dumbledore's methods." Neville looked at Naruto confused while Harry blinked.

"Alright?" Minato sighed.

"Don't worry about it boys. I tell you what happened later, after the exams." The three nodded and stood. It was nearly time to meet the other teams.

"So where are we meeting again?" Harry smirked at Neville who rolled his eyes. By now, they were both used to Naruto's extreme short term memory issues.

"I'll lead you there Naruto. It's not like it's the only training field in the tower after all." Minato shook his head and followed his youngest who was leading them to the grounds.

/

"Alright teams!" Minato stood with the other Jounin in front of the genin. There were five teams there, including Team Arashi, which made fifteen genin. The field was luckily rather large or it would be quite crowded.

"First off, each of you will introduce yourself, likes, dislikes, hobbies. That sort of stuff. To demonstrate, us Jonin will go first." Kakashi was leading as he was 'technically' the most senior Jonin there.

"My name is Kakashi Hatake. I like a lot of things and dislike other things. You all are too young to know my hobbies, so I won't say them. Oh, and before becoming a sensei, I was an ANBU captain." Minato rolled his eyes as Kakashi stepped back into line.

"Very informative." The female Jonin, Kurenai, stepped forward next.

"I am Kurenai Yuuhi. I like to create new genjutsu, my students, and my friends. I don't like it when men act superior to women, perverts, and people who are rude. My hobbies are hanging out with my friends and creating new genjutsu. I have only recently reached the rank of Jounin." The genin nodded as Kurenai stepped back into line and Gai leaped forward. His team flinched.

"MY NAME IS GAI MIGHTO! I LIKE TRAINING AND MY YOUTHFUL STUDENT LEE! I DO NOT HAVE MANY DISLIKES! MY HOBBIES ARE TRAINING!" Minato blinked and saw Harry and Naruto flinching from the volume of Gai's voice. He stepped in.

"Gai. Too loud. Drop the volume now." Gai turned to him and Minato had to step back to avoid a hug. Gai gave him a grin and ran back into the line.

"Erm, now that I'm not being deafened." Minato cleared his throat.

"My name is Arashi. You may call me Arashi-san or Arashi-san-" His team shook their heads, of course he would pull out his humor now. "I like to clean, my sons, and sealing. I dislike paperwork and when people don't bother to learn from their mistakes. My hobbies are sealing and making things more efficient with seals. Before becoming a sensei, I was away on a very long term mission, which is where I gained my team, and I was involved in the ANBU program." Let them make of that what they will. He hadn't lied, the Hokage was involved in the ANBU program. He led it afterall.

"Good." The last sensei stepped forward. "My name is Asuma Sarutobi. I like smoking and my father. I dislike people trying to control me. Before becoming a sensei, I was a member of the Twelve Ninja Guardians for the Fire Daimyo." Asuma stepped back and Kakashi stepped forward again.

"Now that you know the sensei, it's time for you to introduce yourselves. We'll start with my team and just go down the line." Neville looked at Minato. He was at the end of the row and so would go last.

"Sasuke Uchiha. I don't like anything, and I dislike a lot. My hobbies are training." Naruto smirked at Harry, but said nothing.

"My name is Sakura Haruno and I like… I dislike Ino-pig and my hobbies are…" She kept trailing off and squealing. Minato raised his eyebrows and looked at Kakashi.

"My name is Sai. I don't have any likes or dislikes. My hobby is drawing." This kid was chalk-pale and spoke in a calm even voice. Neville narrowed his eyes. He was faking something.

"My name is Shino Aburame. I like bugs and finding new bugs. I dislike people who don't like bugs." The boy in the long blue trench coat had a low humming noise from him. Naruto edged slightly further away from him as the noise was making his ears itch.

"M-my name i-is Hin-nata H-hyuuga. I l-like flower p-pressing and m-music. I d-dislike t-the w-way my f-family treats i-itself." Hinata was a small girl in a beige coat and appeared to be trying to hide in her jacket.

"My name is Kiba Inuzuka! I like Akamaru and my team! I dislike when people smell funny! My hobby is training!" Kiba was just as hyped up as he had been at the beginning of the exams. Harry groaned quietly and Minato shot him a disapproving frown.

"My name is Ino Yamanaka and I like… My dislikes are Forehead and the lazy bums I have for teammates! My hobbies are taking care of the flowers at the family shop." The blonde girl turned and punched her teammate, a guy with brown spiky hair.

"Troublesome. Shikamaru Nara. I like watching clouds and sleeping. I dislike annoying women, and my hobbies are playing shogi and watching clouds." Ino looked furious, but didn't hit Shikamaru again.

*Munch-munch* "My name is Choji Akimichi. I like eating and watching clouds with Shika. I dislike when people call me fat! I am not fat! My hobbies are trying new kinds of chips." Neville looked over at Harry and grimaced. Neither of them would like to face this kid. He would be bound to hit pretty hard.

"MY NAME IS LEE ROCK! I LIKE TRAINING AND GAI-SENSEI! I DISLIKE WHEN PEOPLE ARE BEING UNYOUTHFUL! MY HOBBY IS TRAINING WITH GAI-SENSEI!" His two teammates grimaced.

"My name is Tenten. I like weapons and forging weapons. I dislike being yelled at and when people yell-" Pointed look at teammate, "My hobbies are trying new kinds of weapons." She gestured to the next person down the line and the guy took a deep breath. Naruto was now bouncing from foot to foot and Harry had one of his arms to keep him from moving too much.

"My name is Neji Hyuuga. I have no likes and I hate the main family. Fate is the one who decides who the victor will be." Neville shared a slight glance with Harry.

"My name is Naruto! I like my team and my dad. I also like ramen," Minato shook his head in amusement, Naruto was such a ramen junkie, "and I like the school I go to. I don't like yelling, people who hurt my family, or bullies. My hobbies are training and playing pranks!" Harry sighed as Naru finished his introduction.

"My name is Hari. I like to read, my family, and my friends. I dislike people who are rude and loudness. My hobbies are planning out pranks and reading." He gave Neville a pat on his back to get Neville to start.

"Finally. My name is Nev. I like to garden and my team. I dislike people who think they are better, and being yelled at. My hobbies include training and gardening." As Neville finished, each sensei approached their team and held out a small box. Each genin put a slip of paper with their name on it into the box and the senseis returned to the middle.

"Okay," Kurenai stepped forward, "this is going to be a tournament style competition. Arashi-san will pull two names at a time. If the manes are from the same team, one of them will be returned to the box and he will draw another. This is as fair as we can get it, so stop complaining." The Yamanaka girl had immediately opened her mouth to complain and Kurenai read the last rule, but shut it at the end of Kurenai's spiel.

"First up, Ino and… Hari!" the other teams were moved out of the way and Minato erected a barrier around the group.

"On three!" Hari stood in a relaxed position while Ino opened up into a textbook perfect academy starting position. As soon as Minato marked off three counts, Ino attacked. It took a single block and sweep kick from Hari to knock her out. Her teammates looked at him stunned.

"Good job Hari." His brother and Nev gathered around him and clapped him on the back as Ino's sensei retrieved her from the field.

"That was… quick." Kurenai struggled on what to say and the rest of the genin were completely speechless. Kakashi was watching the rest of the group and Gai was… well, Gai was doing something creepy that nobody should ever have to see…

"Next fight, Sasuke and… Hyuuga Neji." The two glared at each other as they took the floor. Hari sighed and sat down as Minato pulled a white board out of one of his pockets and set up the roster. He drew the brackets and labeled each one as the tournament continued. Neji beat Sasuke easily, then Naruto beat Sakura, Kiba lost to Shikamaru, Sai lost to Lee, Tenten beat Choji, and Nev got a bye. Of course, that meant that Nev had to fight one of the senseis, and he didn't get to choose…

/

"I can't believe you had to fight Dad…" Harry was standing next to a battered looking Neville as Neville wrapped and covered his newest bruises. Neville had held his own for three minutes and had tried not to reveal too much to the others. Of course, Minato was holding back too. No Hiraishin or Rasengan… but it was still painful for Neville.

"So you are going against that Neji guy?" Harry shook his head.

"The senseis ended it. They decided it was very obvious that our team was going to win. Of course, the other genin weren't to happy about it, but Dad didn't care." Neville sighed and put away his supplies.

"So where's Naru?" Harry glanced up at Neville, but didn't answer.

"Of course. You know, I hope he loses a couple of them." Naruto had this habit of always wanting to spar against others, even when neither Harry nor Neville wished to. Harry grinned.

"I doubt it. Dad has trained us too well for that. None of those others stood a chance." Harry froze as a presence fell across him.

"Er… Hi Dad!" Neville snickered as Minato came up behind Harry.

"Getting cocky now, are we Harry?" Harry sighed. Of course his father would catch that, Harry had the worst luck sometimes.

"N-no Dad! I was being confident in my ability to scout my opponents and my own skills!" Harry was sweating now, but Minato laughed rather than give him some extra training.

"Well reasoned my Ravenclaw son!" Harry gave a sigh of relief. His dad was not punishing him. This time.

"Where's Naruto?" Harry and Neville looked at each other.

"We thought he was down at the training field with you." Minato looked between the two boys.

"No. He left just after you two." All three looked at each other and studied each others' faces.

"Ok, we'll split up to look for him. You two know what to do. One hour, okay?" The boys nodded and then they were all gone, searching the tower for Naruto.

It was Harry that found Naruto. Naruto was locked in an argument with the Suna shinobi, not far from the cafeteria. It appeared that the Suna side had started the argument by insulting Konoha.

"Naruto!" Both Naruto and Harry flinched when Minato yelled, but it quickly ended the argument.

"Explain." Now even the Suna shinobi were shaking at the coldness of Minato's tone. Naruto snapped to attention and began to report.

"I was coming down to lunch and overheard the Foreign Shinobi belittling one of the other Genin from Konoha, Kiba Inuzuka. Inuzuka-san was losing his temper, so I intervened and reminded them that fighting outside of the training ground was not allowed and that they could be disqualified for it. At this point, Inuzuka-san left, but then the Foreign Shinobi chose to fight with me instead." Naruto ended his report and the Suna shinobi, the male one in a black catsuit, swallowed heavily as Minato's gaze shifted to him.

"Genin, what is the meaning of this disturbance." The Suna shinobi didn't begin to report like Naruto had, instead, he looked away and mumbled something. Harry, who was watching from the sidelines, winced as he felt his dad's KI spike.

"Dad's pissed, isn't he?" Naruto had moved over to where Harry was and was now watching the scene.

"Just a bit, yeah." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"So what was that? I mean you knew you weren't supposed to fight off the training ground. Why did you keep arguing?" Naruto sighed.

"I wasn't. As I kept trying to go away, he kept grabbing my jacket and he wouldn't leave me alone. I didn't want to hit him, as that would make me a hypocrite and I didn't want that, so I stood there and he yelled at me." Harry nodded. Minato had heard what Naruto had said, despite being across the hall and was furious. He kept it more hidden though and tried not to spike his KI too much higher. Nevertheless, and ANBU still ended up coming down the hall to see what the disturbance was. As the ANBU appeared, Harry and Naruto decided that it was now time to go back to their rooms and left. Minato saw this and followed close behind. The two Suna genin were left shaking in his wake.

/

Neville was waiting in the room for them. He immediately saw their faces and posed a question about what was wrong.

"Genin are so annoying at times." It was Minato that said this, and his team looked at each other and laughed slightly.

"I love you too, Dad." Minato stuck his tongue out a Naruto. Harry and Neville shared a look.

"Pile!" Minato didn't stand a chance. At Harry's signal, all three boys tackled him to the ground and they all fell into a heap.

"Ugh! You're all getting too heavy for this!" Harry laughed and shrieked as Minato managed to get a hold of Harry.

"Agh! I yield! I yield!" Minato laughed and tried to grab one of the other two, but they quickly fled out of his reach.

"Yes! I'm free!" Minato jumped up and knocked the lamp off the table.

"Oops… " Everyone burst out laughing. They laughed until there was a knock on the door, snapping the time, Neville answered the door while Minato fitted his ANBU mask on. It was Kakashi.

"I'm sorry, I must have the wrong room." Kakashi turned to leave, but was stopped by Arashi's voice.

"Kakashi? What're you doing here?" Kakashi turned back to the doorway and saw Arashi standing behind Nev.

"I wanted to ask you something…" Minato sent Nev inside and closed the door as he stepped into the hallway with Kakashi.

"Ask away…"