Author's note: Here is my next update, and don't worry, I will get to Nameless six hopefully next week if you are following that story. Please, read, enjoy and review, just there is no need for flames! So, please don't flame me!
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Naruto! Happy, Kishimoto-san?
Yamato, Sai, and Naruto relaxed in the waters of the hot springs. After Sakura had nearly decked Sai again after he made another tactless comment, Yamato-taicho had given the team a choice for a team building exercise. They could beat each other senseless in a cage, or they could relax at a hot springs. The hot springs won by a landslide.
Naruto was relaxing and letting his imagination run wild as he remembered some of the times he and Hinata had been at hot springs through out their journey. It had gotten much better once Rin and Obito had joined them. Jiraiya was too scared that Rin would use her medical training to 'disconnect' a few things if she had caught him researching her or Hinata were in the hot springs that he didn't dare to try. Naruto was brought back to reality when Sai spoke up.
"What are you smiling about?"
"Just how nice it is to go to a hot spring without Ero-sennin. I don't have to worry about getting chased out of there by a bunch of angry women out for blood," Naruto replied. I'm not saying what I was really thinking about. "Hey, Sai, are you good with that tanto of yours?"
"Yes."
"Could you teach me some stuff with it? I mostly use kunai, 'cause a katana doesn't work with my fighting style. However, I think a tanto would work just fine."
Sai looked thoughtful. "I could instruct you on the basics. Once you have those down, you can decide if you want to continue the instruction."
"Deal, Sai-senpai," Naruto grinned as he held out his hand. However this does not exempt you from being on the receiving end of my pranks.
Yamato grinned to see his little plan working. He had hoped the relaxed atmosphere of the hot springs would help the team calm down and get to know each other.
"You mentioned katana. Do you know how to use a katana, Naruto?"
"Yes, but Hinata is the one who likes it, not me. It's fun to use one, but with my style, I can only use it against someone using a weapon with a longer reach. My Kaasan was an amazing swordsman, so I've heard, but I didn't inherit that trait from here. Which is funny, because I got my personality and most of my fighting style from her."
"Who is your mother?" Sai asked, sounding curious.
"Her name is Uzumaki Kushina, also known as the Bloody Red Habanero, Red Whirlpool, the Katana Mistress of Konoha, and the ANBU Kitsune," Naruto replied, "Kakashi-sensei has some interesting stories about her. She used to babysit his team when he was a Chunin. Yamato-taicho, that's what you are! You're our team babysitter."
"How do you think that describes you?" Yamato shot back. "You're fifteen, and both Sai and Sakura are sixteen, and you all need a babysitter."
"With the Akatsuki after my head, I don't think I want to be on my own," Naruto replied. "I'm good, but not S-rank yet."
Yamato grinned, "Touche, Naruto."
"So, Yamato-taicho, tell us about yourself," Naruto said with a grin, "And you had better say more than Kakashi-sensei did. Same with you, Sai."
"Okay, I am Sai. I like painting, drawing, and my favorite food is tofu."
"At least it isn't qiu dofu," (A/N: stinky tofu, I don't what to call it in Japanese. I can't eat tofu any more, thanks to that dish.) Naruto murmured. He had some bad memories associated with that dish, as well as fish eyeballs. Let's just say it involved Obito, Itachi, betting, and some stupid dares.
"I don't like traitors, illness, and dango."
"Never say that in front of Mitarashi Anko. She loves dango and is a little on the crazy side," Naruto informed him.
"I'll keep that in mind," Sai remarked, "The only goal I have at the time is to remember something I have forgotten."
"Not a bad goal," Yamato nodded. "I'm Yamato, and right now I want to complete this mission and return home intact."
"I want the same thing," Naruto grinned. "I want to prove myself worthy of being my parent's son." He gave a small, wistful smile. "I also want to to help create a world in which Hinata and I can raise a family without them facing hatred."
"Wow, you're fifteen, and you're already thinking about things like that," Yamato mused.
"Well, we are ninja, our actions can shape the future of whole nations. I've currently seen huge changes in Wave, Snow, and Suna because of my actions. I learned that when I was traveling with Jiraiya and Hinata."
"Where did you all go?" Sai asked.
"More along the lines of where didn't we go," Naruto murmured. "I spent time in Kusa, Taki, Hoshi, Suna, and Iwa. Those are all of the Hidden Villages I have seen. We went so many places, I doubt I can name them. By the way, neither of you can tell Tsunade-baachan that I was in Iwa. She would kill Jiraiya if she knew."
"That was most irresponsible of him," Sai said.
"Hinata and I were both disguised and never used chakra the whole time we were there," Naruto defended him, "Trust me, it was a great thing that we went there and found what we did." He was thinking of Rin and Obito as he said that.
"That wasn't the smartest thing to do," Yamato chided him.
"I know, that's why I haven't told Baachan that, and I don't intend to any time soon," Naruto replied.
Yamato stretched and got up, with a towel around his waist. "I'm going to make sure that dinner will be ready on time. It should be served in about an hour, so you shouldn't be in here for much longer."
The two guys nodded and then Naruto continued to telling Sai about some of the places he had been with Jiraiya and Hinata over the past three years.
Sakura was sitting against the wall dividing the men's and women's section, eavesdropping on Naruto and Sai's conversation. Wow, he spent a lot of time in Sunagakure. It's funny that he and Gaara have been such good friends since that fight during the Chunin Exams. Wait, Temari likes Shikamaru? He, he, he, I wonder if Ino-pig knows yet. Sakura was by nature curious, which is what prompted her to learn so much. She also loved gossip, so she was always trying to hear something that no one else knew. Wait, what was that about Hinata? They are engaged? Since when? This is gossip gold. The spineless princess and the hyperactive dork. Naruto isn't a knucklehead anymore. Did he knock Hinata up while they were gone? It must not have been that long ago, she's still really slender. Is that why they are engaged?
Sakura kept busy with her thoughts as she got out of the hot spring and dressed in the yukata provided by the hot spring staff. After she was dressed, she was directed to the room where their dinner had been prepared. The only seat left available was next to Sai and across from Yamato. Naruto and Sai were busy talking still, and neither guy had even noticed her presence yet.
"Idatakimasu!" She called out, catching the guy's attention and stopping their conversation.
"Idatakimasu!" Naruto and Sai quickly followed her lead, and then proved that they were teenage guys by trying to eat everything in sight.
Sakura mentally sniffed at the boys' antics. While she also ate heartily, she also conducted herself with some dignity.
Yamato looked at the three teens, mentally reviewing what Kakashi and Tsunade had told him. Haruno Sakura, genjutsu specialist, also trained as a medic nin, used to working in a clinical setting, not a battlefield medic, a good, basic all around fighter. Sai, a former (most likely still current) member of Danzo's ROOT program, which the Sandaime ordered him to disband. Uses drawings and fairly adept with kenjutsu. Has no social skills at all. Finally, Uzumaki Naruto, ninjutsu specialist, good skills in taijutsu, no ability in genjutsu, kenjutsu training ongoing. He is the son of ANBU legend Kitsune, and a close combat specialist. He is also the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, so watch out if he get's emotional, the Kyuubi might try to make a break for it. Why did I agree to this?
"Something wrong, Yamato-taicho? You look like you have swallowed a lemon," Sakura commented.
"Just questioning my sanity," Yamato replied, "All older ninja do it from time to time."
"I questioned Kakashi-sensei's sanity all of the time," Sakura said thoughtfully, "Kurenai-sensei is different, but she doesn't act at all like Kakashi-sensei."
"Don't judge him too quickly, Sakura. He is one if the youngest veterans of the Third Shinobi War, and all of his close friends are dead. How would you handle half of the things he's gone through without losing your mind?" Yamato's tone was gentle and questioning. Kakashi was a good friend of his, though Kakashi had tried to keep distance between himself and everyone else after the death of his fiancee, Norita Rin, who Yamato had also known and worked with in ANBU.
Sakura was stunned. That explains so much about Kakashi-sensei, How come he never said anything?
Naruto and Sai were off in their own conversation. "So, that is how you know the Kazekage. Is he as strong as they say?" Sai asked.
"Gaara is really strong. He is probably the toughest opponent I have ever fought, with the exceptions of Ero-Sennin and Hina-hime. Kakashi-sensei is really tough as well, but is you know his weakness, you can survive against him."
"Isn't Hatake Kakashi considered to be one of Konoha's elite Jonin?" Sai asked, puzzled by Naruto's words.
"I said survive, not beat. Big difference. Gaara, however, is much harder to defeat. He has an amazing defense, knows a ton of offensive skills, and has a ton of chakra and endurance. You'd have to be at least S-rank to stand a chance against Gaara."
Sai nodded while thinking, The Kazekage is stronger than Danzo-sama gave him credit for. To realize that he could easily defeat Hatake Kakashi is hard to imagine. Don't underestimate Sabaku Gaara because of his youth.
Somewhere back in Konoha, two guys in serious need of a fashion consultant yelled in unison, "Flames of youth!"
Sai shivered for no reason at all. "What was it like to train under the Yondaime's teacher?"
"Ero-Sennin is a great ninja and teacher, but you need to keep him focused on what you are supposed to be doing. I learned from him, and two ANBU on a long term mission codenamed Crow and Eagle. They were also great senseis."
"Crow and Eagle?" Yamato asked, "I don't know any ANBU codenamed Crow. And Eagle, he's been serving in the village for the past two years."
Naruto gulped. He couldn't tell Yamato the truth about Itachi and Rin. "It's an S-rank class mission they were assigned by the Sandaime several years ago. I believe that they are considered to be MIA, but I think that is all I can say without getting into trouble."
Yamato nodded. He didn't ask anymore and Naruto didn't mention Crow and Eagle again. The dinner finished up, and Yamato was left alone, contemplating what he had learned about the members of the team.
Back in Konoha, Hinata sat down at Ichiraku ramen for an early dinner, wanting to talk a bit with Ayame. Another girl was already there, eating ramen and studying. She had dark reddish-brown hair held back in two braids, pale skin, green eyes, and wearing civilian clothes. Ayame was next to her, also studying from the same book.
"Hi, Ayame," Hinata got the ramen girl's attention.
"Hi, Hinata. Sorry, Tsuruko here was helping me understand what we are studying in chemistry. Tsuruko, this is my friend, Genin Hyuuga Hinata. Hinata, this is my best friend, Hitsugaya Tsuruko. She is almost seventeen and attends the same advanced civilian school as me."
Tsuruko gave Hinata a great big smile. "You're Hinata? You are just as pretty as Ayame said you were. I'm so glad to meet you. Is Naruto going to meet you here or something? I've been wanting to meet Ayame's otouto for the longest time." Tsuruko then got off of the stool to give Hinata a bow.
Hinata returned it. "It is nice to meet you, Tsuruko. Naruto is gone on a mission, but he should be home in a few days. What is your focus in study?"
"I'm focusing on science and chemistry. I once made my family garbage can explode on accident when I was eight and have been fascinated with stuff like that ever since. I was never interested in being a ninja, but I do envy you with all you get to see and experience."
"Except we don't often get the chance to enjoy them because we worried about completing our mission." A beetle landed on Ayame's shoulder, and Hinata gently picked it up and placed it on the ground.
"You like bugs?" Tsuruko asked, "I love studying them, but most girls I know freak out and try to squish them."
"One of my former teammates is a member of the Aburame clan, so I learned to respect insects from him," Hinata replied.
"One of the bug users? Awesome! I love being out in nature and studying all of the different wildlife, everything from bugs to birds. Just not snakes. I hate snakes."
"Me too, but blame Orochimaru for that fear," Hinata replied. "Do you mind frogs and toads? I just ask because I summon them. It's because I was taught by the Toad Sannin. He had me sign the summoning contract."
"As long as they don't jump on me, I'm good."
The three girls began chatting as they ate their ramen and soon all were friends. As they began gathering their things to leave, Hinata had the strangest idea. "Hey, Tsuruko, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, why?"
"You know that Aburame teammate of mine? Would you object to being set up on a blind date with him? I think the two of you might get along pretty well," Hinata suggested to her new friend.
Tsuruko paused and said, "Sure, why not? If anything, this will get my mother off of my back about my lack of a social life. What's the worst that can happen?"
"Tsuruko, when you are dealing with ninja, never ask that question," Hinata replied while laughing.
A/N, take two: Sorry it took me so long to update, but the only time it feel that I have to write is when I go to church. Ryusora, you know what I mean. Thank you everyone for your reviews!