Thank you to my well-wishers, though I wonder if anyone went back to reread the end of the last chapter since no one commented.
Here we go.
Sakura laid on the grass back in training ground 7, the week had been long. her and Ino's fight had been tough but then she watched Naruto Shikamaru and Kiba. The three biggest morons in the Academy, though she knows that was a mask no one noticed before. She watched them tare through those thugs and killers then watched Naruto disembowel the crime lord.
It wasn't till after that was done when Sakura walked the village and looked through all the records did she realize that those men truly deserved that and much worse. There were always stories, and movies depicting large criminal organizations, but she had never believed they were true. She thought all criminals were small and easy to handle, she did not think people suffered that badly anywhere...
She was incredibly sheltered, and every day that storybook fairy-tail that she had grown up with was quickly vanishing making room for the cold, nasty, and harsh reality everyone has been trying to teach her since the camp.
"Still trying to figure it out?" Ino asked as she stepped up to stand next to the pink's head.
"More like trying to accept it," Sakura replied as Ino laid down next to her.
"I lived in a Shinobi clan all my life," Ino started. "And even I was shocked. Mom says this is why most Genin teams don't get out of the village on a mission for at least six months, TenTen told me that Gai had not let her team out for the first seven months."
"That mission should have been easy," Sakura spoke.
"Nothing is ever easy," a voice startled both girls and they quickly got to their feet Kunai in hand. Ma'am Chi-Chi and 'Tank' stood there watching them.
"Good reaction, but don't get too high strung," Tank smiled.
"I didn't even hear them," Sakura whispered as she slowly put her Kunai away.
"If I wanted you to hear me you would have," Chi-Chi- replied.
"Don't forget...we have both had training from Chief, and years of it." Tank added with a smile.
"Can we," Sakura started. "Can we help you with anything?"
"As soon as your mother gets here," the large woman replied.
"Relax, you heard the Hokage. One week off starting the moment you finished the debriefing." Tank added and moved to sit on the grass next to where the girls were laying.
Kyoko stood at the podium as she looked over her class of aspiring Kunoichi, she was not happy. In the last few days her, Tank and Chi-Chi had been checking over each year of girls, and now came the class she knew would be a headache. This was the girl of girls that failed the most recent Genin test, the ones that failed Chief's camp. She looked in each of their eyes.
What she saw was lazy dreamers trapped in a world of fantasy thinking about Gallant knights and romantic moons. She also saw complete fools,
'Kiba was right,'
The Inuzuka had guess 'at least three' and in fact, there were five girls sporting haircuts so short you could see skin. Kyoko knew some women could pull that look off and pull it off well...none of these girls were in that group.
She knew most of these girls saw a lady, someone they wished to be. Money, power, respect. None of them saw the Kunoichi,
"I see why you all failed," Kyoko spoke in a harsh tone.
The girls were shocked by the words.
"I have been a Kunoichi since I was eleven, trained as one since I could walk," Kyoko started.
"It is not our fault," one girl screamed.
"Yeah that Chief guy should be arrested," another yelled.
"He is my father," Kyoko finished.
Everyone shut up and gasped, everyone remembered the warning from that girl, but none would think The Chief could be the father of such a respectable Lady.
"And like I said, I was being trained, by him, to be a Kunoichi since I learned to walk." the Hyuga continued. "I think you should all quit, none of you even know what it means to be a Kunoichi."
A strange vibe went through the room, the girls had been forced to attend the Academy. Seems only a Chunin could marry into the main house of the Uchiha clan. So the girls' parents made them join, some under threat of disownment if they failed.
"I will not kick you out," Kyoko spoke as she started to walk around the room. "As long as you return I will train you, know this, I know why my father trains Shinobi and Kunoichi the way he does. I have seen what happens to those that are not trained correctly, so I fully agree with his training style."
Just then Tank and Ma'am Chi-Chi walked into the room, Kyoko knew they were helping the girls. Till the rest of the group returned those that remained behind would have to pull double and triple duty.
All three women pulled familiar wooden canes out and looked at the girls.
"As long as you choose to return...we will train you," Kyoko spoke.
"get running ladies," Chi-Chi called out.
The group of children were up, out of their seats and leaving the classroom heading for the training field.
Hiashi Hyuga and Kizashi Haruno had been on a long-distance caravan escort mission and were just now returning to the village. After checking in with the Hokage they were given a detailed report about what had been going on. The team 7 mission, the village-wide run. He had been shocked to hear how well the kids did, both of his daughters performed to high praise. The Idea that Hinata had gotten the Hokage shocked, impressed and pleased him. Then he read the report on the modified WAVE mission and again was impressed by Naruto, His former teammate and best friends son was making a name for himself in the Shinobi ranks.
Correction, those that could know about Naruto were impressed. Even with her out of the village, Ito's misinformation team still kept ninety percent of the village ignorant of the true Naruto. Sitting at a table outside a local sweet shop while looking over the reports, Kizashi came and sat with him,
"What is the word?" the Haruno asked.
"I have known that man most of my life," Hiashi replied. "And I still cannot see how he finds the talent in people the way he does."
Nodding Kizashi replied, "He is older than most of us, he has more experience when looking. If we could go back in time, I am sure we would find a moment when Chief Kuzai had been wrong about a person. He said it himself, many times, he is not a god even he makes mistakes."
"But unlike most people, when he makes a mistake he works to fix it," Hiashi nodded. "Not hide it, not cover it up not pretend it did not happen...he fixes it."
"True," the Haruno nodded. "That did not answer my question."
"All the kids...the Genin, are performing at a level I did not think possible. Even Neji has improved greatly, he and Mr. Lee took down Gai."
"Damn, but Gai loved that," Kizashi smiled. "How about the Uchiha?
"Reports say he is now pulling his weight and not complaining about anything," Hiashi replied with a growl. "So far he is playing by the rules."
"Thinking it is just a matter of time before he flips out?" Haruno asked.
"Though I did not agree with her in the meeting, Tank is right. Uchiha's are not known for being graceful losers"
"Except of course Itachi and Shisui," the Haruno corrected.
Hiashi did not reply but looked back to the reports changing the subject.
"All reports indicate your Sakura held her own very well, I will admit when I saw her that second day...I think the only hope I saw in her was the fact that she had gone back."
"You are not kidding, and to here she got the first kill of the rookies, I was proud but also sad," Kizashi replied. "Somethings should wait till a person is older. Sex, Killing, Death and taxes, Four things a Shinobi or Kunoichi can't avoid."
"And I have two daughters, one a skill Kunoichi and the other learning to be one," Hiashi added.
"This place serves sake?" Kizashi asked and when Hiashi shook his head.
"Wanna go get a drink?"
Hiashi just nodded.
Hiruzen Finished his paperwork and sat back, he had not yet told the others that the tournament was over, and that Naruto had indeed won. The report from his son had very 'politely' asked why no one was told about the blood seal contract Naruto had. Something that made the old man grin.
It was nothing compared to the information he now had, Sakura had in fact proven her worth, she had been able to read and located over a hundred different warehouses full of drugs, weapons, cash (several boatloads of cash) and human slaves. Leaf kept the weapons, most of the cash. They had distributed a lot of it to the local areas...farmers, the poor, hospitals. Helping to keep Leaf in the good light of the small countries and possible clients of tomorrow. (this was one of Chief's ideas).
She also found records of all of Gato's past clients. Shikaku Nara lit a fire under the ass's of all his Jonin and Chunin, seems after countless losses to the rookie Genin as well as the K.A.C they needed to get something right. So the Shinobi tore into the missions with a vigor Hiruzen had not seen in them in years.
As for the human prisoners...they were returned without charge to their rightful homes. Some went to IWA and Kumo, the looks on their faces when LEAF Shinobi returned their kidnapped family members without even asking for a thank you. 'Sometimes I do see why Chief enjoys being an ass'
Ibiki was also having fun, he had finished his time with Aoi, and now he was entertaining a few guests that were formally employed by Mr. Gato. The information coming from them quickly helping LEAF become well loved by WAVE and all other smaller nations that had been harmed by the crime lord.
The best part was, thanks to WAVE and Naruto's intervention there, LEAF was no longer broke. Everything paid for including the medical program, the Chunin exams, the food from Teuchi, and Chiefs special project. Which mean the money coming from the mission of the tournament was profit. The Shinobi village was going to have a strong cash surplus when the new Godaime Hokage took over.
'first, I will spend a few minutes enjoying the situation, then I will start planning in case something goes wrong.
He knew something may happen, things were going very smooth at this moment.
Naruto finished Packing as everyone, minus Tsume and Yoshino who were tending to Tsunade, waited. Smiled as he remembered the look on Baa-Chan's face when she turned over those two Ace's. It would have been hard to forget, seeing those cards and hearing his name, the Slug Princess froze and became catatonic. Tsume and Shika's mother had to help the young woman, Shizune, take the Hime from the table and to her room.
"I feel as if we are forgetting something," Asuma spoke as the group finished packing.
"Naruto, where is Kakashi?" Shika asked as he lay back on the bed.
"Third panel from the wall," Naruto replied without looking up.
Just then one of the ceiling panels moved and the Copy-Ninja dropped from the ceiling.
"That's right," Asuma replied. "Chief wanted you here, where have you been?"
"Here," Kakashi and Naruto replied together.
Asuma scratched his forehead waiting.
"He arrived shortly after you all did, but he had to stay hidden," Naruto continued.
"Why?" Kiba and Neji asked together, making them look strangely at each other.
"Same reason Mai had to stay hidden, if Tsunade had seen either of them, she would have run," Naruto answered. "Especially Mai."
"Why is that?" Hinata asked as she stood next to Kurenai who was carrying Anko again.
"Tsunade Baa-Chan fears the Chief," Naruto replied. "I think she fears him more then your father does," he looked to Hinata with a smile.
"It is a close race," Jiraiya nodded. "Tsunade always ran from her demons and Chief...he drags you back by the hair in order to face them."
"learn anything?" Naruto asked.
Kakashi just nodded, "Chief was right, this place was too rich a target. A group of missing-nin, barely C-Rank Chunin, plan to kidnap the daughter of some business tycoon. Should be going down in about an hour."
Naruto thought on this, "Shino, Shika?"
"So far, only Jiraiya is known as a Shinobi of the Leaf. They do know you work for the court of the fire lord, but have no idea that you are, in fact, a Shinobi." Shino replied. "If we admit that were all were Shinobi and Kunoichi, it might cause problems."
"Yeah, there are a lot of people around angry at the outcome of the Tournament," Shika added. "We need to get out of here fast before anyone starts looking too deep into this."
"Well," Naruto nodded. "We are not going to just walk away. Hinata you and TenTen go get Temari, Then you three deal with the problem and let Temari take the credit. Suna could use the good publicity and I am sure Temari could use a confidence booster."
A few of the people chuckled.
"Anko, you and Mai go with them," Kurenai spoke up. "And remember, Leaf Shinobi were never here."
Hinata nodded as Anko called for a 'girls outing'.
"We," Naruto continued. "Will head over and collect Baa-Chan."
The group minus the girls had started down the hall heading for the suit that held their target, as Naruto reached the door he heard shouting and pushed the door open,
"LEAVE ME ALONE," Tsunade shouted. "The deal was I return to the village, I go without any argument, I return to active duty."
She was screaming as a grinning Tsume and as scowling Yoshino.
"NOWHERE IN THAT AGREEMENT SAYS I HAVE TO BE SOBER," and to prove her point she started chugging from a sake bottle that was half her size, with a rather large amount spilling out around her mouth.
"True," Naruto called out causing the older woman to cough and choke as she put the bottle down and looked at the group in her door.
"But, we are going to be moving quickly during our return to the village, wouldn't want you to become sick, now would we?"
"What are you doing here brat?" Tsunade screamed as she wobbled.
"I am here to escort the Lady Tsunade Senju, princess of Konoha home," he replied with a bow. (he really wished Hinata had been there to see it.)
"Already?" she asked growing pale.
"We have no time," Jiraiya replied. "We have to get back, we have all been away too long."
She looked around and found the serious faces staring at her, then she spotted Kakashi,
"What have you not told me yet?" she asked.
"The Snake is planning an attack," Kakashi spoke up making Tsunade look at him again. "We need your help."
"How?" she started. "How did this, how did you find me...how did you beat me, and why am I not trying to run?"
Naruto nodded and started to loosen the buttons on his left sleeve, seeing this most followed suit. Pulling his sleeve down and showing his forearm Tsunade hit her knees, there was no mistaking that star.
Temari was just finishing her packing, she was about to leave alone as he father had an important last-minute meeting. (Temari guessed that important meeting was about twenty maybe, with brown hair, and the morals of a cat)
She really did hate her father., she was shaken from her thoughts as there came a knock at the door. Opening it she was met by Hinata, a girl with Buns in her hair, Mai and the Kunoichi that had fallen in love with her bed.
"May we come in?" Hinata asked politely.
Not sure what was up she backed away letting the four in, Anko smiled, charged and jumped on the bed landing in a spread-eagle belly flop.
After a short chit-chat, they told Temari about the kidnapping and plan to give Suna all the credit.
"Why," Temari asked. "Why help Suna?" they stood hidden in a balcony of a room that was across and above the room the victim and her father were staying in.
"Naruto," Hinata replied as they staked out the room the Tycoon and his daughter were staying in. "You helped him, he helps you."
The Suna girl was about to ask again when a large cloud of smoke quickly filled the room,
"Showtime girls," Anko called and leaped from the balcony and down to the balcony below, everyone followed quickly.
Everyone except Mai was wearing a kimono (qipao for TenTen) that did not look as if they were made for combat. (Naturally, these girls were Kunoichi so looks are deceiving) They hit the open door and rolled in, where they found several people laying on the floor out while seven Shinobi with etched out headbands were looking around. One had a girl on his shoulder,
Mai smiled and stepped back to watch, Anko quickly pulled her Kunai and charged as two men as she started a strange serpent dance with them, laughing and toying. Hinata quickly slipped into her moonlight form as three men charged her, they were quickly on the ground.
TenTen pulled a chain out and quickly snagged the unconscious girl's legs pulling her free of the man that was carrying her, then she pulled a mace out of who knew where
(perverts behave, this is TenTen we are talking about.)
And smashed it into the guy's head. Temari charged in and pulled a set of hand fans, just basic simple cloth fans, and quickly slipped into a new fighting style that looked to move with the wind.
Mai smiled as she watched, the guy spider walking on the ceiling above her figured she was too distracted and dropped down. Mai just lifted her hand and caught the guy by the shirt then guided his fall till his teeth met her raised knee.
In minutes it was over as Temari TenTen and Anko finished off the last of them,
"Anko, stop playing with them," Hinata called out.
The snake woman just smiled and finished,
"Hand fans?" TenTen asked as she stepped up to the Suna girl.
"Yeah, this place was not ideal for my large battle fan, not that you gave me time to grab it. But since my defeat in the desert, I have been changing my close quarters fighting style. I just haven't been able to actually build combat fans of this size," Temari replied and the bun-haired girl looked at her fans.
"You are TenTen the marksman, right?"
"That's me, and I am so glad our training style was changed with Chief," the weapons mistress replied as she reached into her dress pocket.
"Why?" both Temari and Hinata asked.
"When I helped look over your files before you face Shikamaru...I realized that since I ONLY fought at range, you would have swept, mopped, and polished the floor with me." TenTen replied as she pulled out a scroll and opened it retrieving two folded up hand fans.
When she opened them Temari found them to be slightly larger than the ones she was using, also at a glance they looked to be simple cloth but when she looked closer she found them to be made of tightly weaved metal mesh,
"These are made of Chakra treated metal, should help greatly," TenTen said as she handed them to the blonde.
"I can use any weapon and love collecting them, but I don't really like these, they will be better in your hands." TenTen smiled, "besides, I can always make another set."
"Why?" Temari started. "Why would you just give me these?"
"Why not, we are allies right?" Anko smiled as she draped an arm over the Suna's shoulders. "Just say thank you."
"Um...Thank you," Temari replied.
Mai waved a hand,
"Right, time to go," Anko called and waved the other two girls to the window. "Remember...we weren't here."
And with that, the LEAF Kunoichi were out and gone, just as Temari was kneeling to check the would-be victim a few guards burst into the door of the room.
Anko smiled as the quickly made it to the street where they quickly spotted their group leaving the city gate,
"That was fun, I got to kill some guys and I don't have to do any paperwork about it," she laughed.
TenTen noticed Hinata,
"Hey why the sad face?"
"Oh...um...Just starting to question me...again," Hinata replied with a blush.
"Oh no," TenTen started. "We do not need Naruto hearing that, what is it?"
"I was worried, about the fact I did not kill any of those guys back there," Hinata replied starting to lower her eyes again.
Anko just reached and put a finger under her chin and lifted the eyes back up,
"Don't worry about it, when it is time I am sure you will know about it and I know you will handle it better then I did," the snake woman told her.
"How did you handle it?" TenTen asked not thinking.
"Got drunk and tried to start a 20-person sex fest with me in the center," Anko replied, "Not the smartest idea at the time."
TenTen and Hinata stopped walking and stared at her,
"Hey, I said not a good idea, and thankfully Kurenai and Yugao were there to save my stupid butt,"
"I don't think I need to know anymore," TenTen responded. Hinata quickly nodding and they started walking again.
"THEY DID WHAT?! Naruto's voice became heard causing the girls to look ahead as see as everyone seemed to try and jump on the blonde at once.
And Naruto was fighting to get free, 'Let me go' was the most intelligent thing the girls heard as they rushed to the large pile of bodies.
"Let me guess," Anko started. "Found out Gaara was put in the cage?" she looked at the others and those not fighting to hold the blonde looked at her and nodded.
At the mention of the 'cage' Naruto growled and started to break free, he started to overpower both Gai and Choji and a few were getting worried.
"Let him up," Jiraiya spoke confusing everyone. "Do it."
Not sure why they started to let up and Naruto broke free and took a step getting ready to run, till a large tongue wrapped around him and pulled him back. Bunta Had grown to about half his normal size, which means he was large enough to pull and hold the blonde in his mouth.
"Calm down moron, remember it was Gaara's idea," Kiba shouted.
"mmmememme...meget...mammm deonmmeme (more mumbled words no one could understand)
"Do we want to know what he just said?" Choji asked looking confused.
Shino had been writing down something and held it for Anko to read...when she blushed, he turned to the others,
"Seeing that it caused Anko to blush I doubt those words should not be spoken out in any kind of company."
"How do you even know what he said?" Tsubaki asked confused, even as she and most of the other chuckled.
"Shikamaru and I are well versed in 'pissed off Naruto speech' the Aburame replied deadpan.
"Done yet?" Shika called and looked up to where the Toad just waited.
"Maa," came the muffled reply and Bunta just spit the boy out.
Naruto stood up as he tried to shake off the slime and looked ready to sprint when everyone just circled around him and stared.
"Fine," he grumbled and looked around. "Hey, where is Baa-Chan?"
Tsunade was trying to slip through the trees as quietly as a very drunk woman could, the moment the blonde kid started to scream she tried to slip away. as she forced her way through a bush,
"Going someplace?"
Tsunade stopped dead in her tracks as she came across a girl with blue hair, in her drunken state,
"Hitomi?!" she called.
"Her daughter, Hinata," Hinata replied with a small bow. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Going someplace?" Jiraiya asked as he came up behind the large chested blonde, along with everyone else.
"Um...bathroom?" she replied as everyone stared at her.
"You went before we left, Yoshino scowled in reply, causing Tsunade to just drop her shoulders in defeat. Slowly she turned back to Hinata, only to come face to face with a smiling Mai. Tsunade screamed and jumped,
Wow," Kiba spoke with wide eyes.
"Yes, it seems that is an Uzumaki trait," Shino replied as everyone just stared.
Tsunade was confused as she looked at everyone just staring at her, then she realized she was higher than the rest. She looked and found herself with both her arms and legs wrapped around Jiraiya's head as she sat on his shoulders.
The Toad Sage almost pulled it off, he stood there, eyes focused, face set with his arms crossed, trying like hell to not react to this situation. But his ear was pressing against her navel, given her body proportions few men could deadpan THAT situation...so the small trickle of blood from his nose was understandable.
Slowly the Slug princess climbed off her former teammate,
"He...he really is back?" Tsunade asked as she stared at Mai.
As a clock struck midnight Teuchi was finishing up the prep for the next day's meal, he was closed but he had one person sitting at his counter. The Hokage sat finishing his late-night snack when a new person pulled out a chair and sat,
"Sorry we're closed," the cook called out and turned.
Only to stop in his tracks and stare, the Hokage to stared at the new man that stood with a wok slung across his back.
"Well," Teuchi started with a smile on his face. "And how is the second best cook in the Leaf village?"
"I don't know," the man replied. "Your daughter has yet to inform me of your current status."
Teuchi laughed and came around the counter to shake the man's hand.
"How have you been Kosuke, back from your three-month vacation already?"
The old man smiled and turned to give a bow to the smiling Hokage,
"How was the beach my friend?" the Hokage asked as he nodded then reached to shake the old Genin's hand.
"Very nice, I admit I did need that. Ended up spending most nights just talking women, seems I am still interesting to the fairer half."
"Most nights?" Teuchi asked with a grin worthy of Jiraiya.
"Seems I am not dead yet," the Genin laughed followed by both the cook and the Hokage.
After the three laughed for a few minutes the old Genin seemed to change his mood,
"What is wrong?" he asked. "I return, and I find the ANBU have closed up three-quarters of the holes in the security I had mention and was ignored about, then I notice that most Chunin and several Jonin appear to have had their ass handed to them. And last, walking through the village it smells as if Kushina herself had returned and started cooking again."
Teuchi reached into his robe top and flashed a red book before returning it to its hiding spot.
"I am not shocked you were the one to get that, I am shocked you started cooking from it...again what happened?"
"I will get you a detailed report in the morning," The Hokage started.
"But a lot of it can be summed up in one sentence," Teuchi spoke. "The Chief is back."
Kosuke looked at the cook then the Hokage, a smile few had seen on the old Genin's face before slowly grew, "What are my orders?"
Teuchi pulled out a message bundle and held it out when Kosuke reach for it the cook did not let go,
"He is cleaning house," Teuchi told him. "All old demons must go...this includes yours, he almost recalled you from your much-needed vacation before I stopped him. When he returns...be ready."
And he released the bundle, the old Genin just stared at it for a moment before opening and reading the top note. He closed it up and smiled at the two men,
"Tell me about the boy."
Sasuke sat in his family shrine, he had not spoken to anyone, correction when asked a question he spoke. When asked for assistance he did, when asked for an option he gave a simple, honest yet respectful reply. He bottled up all his anger and hate, Naruto had again stolen his glory (Kakashi said he waited till the Uchiha had been knocked out of the fight) the blonde fool had made a fool out of him. Then he had the nerve to punch him again, but the Uchiha held his tongue.
The boy looked at the mirror, at his reflection, at his eyes. His eyes now held a single tomoe Sharingan each, At first, he wanted to announce it, walk through the village showing everyone WHY he was better. A voice in his head stopped him, told him to keep it secret wait till he faced the blonde then unleash the true strength of the Uchiha Clan on the Dobe,
"Yes, they will all learn their place."
A/N ok short 5k chapter.
Thank you all for your wishes,
R/K
1: I had forgotten about Kosuke, I mean I knew there was a guy like him in the Naruto world but I forgot who he was and that's why I mostly had Teuchi doing the camp cooking...true I needed the old man for the book but...I had forgotten Kosuke...problem fixed and he fixes another problem I had.
2: I had forgotten about kakashi...my bad...also I was having a lot of trouble getting those hand fans to Temari...so I made that bit up,
3: I liked the chat between Hiashi and Kizashi.
4: thanks for all the well wishes but no one commented on the change to the end of the last chapter...I thought it made it funnier plus...well, using an explosive tag to kill two birds...well... (for those that are reading chapter 34 for the first time don't worry about it.)
5: ok one more thing off the list, next chapter will have a 'what is chief doing' and 'maybe an omake.
6: yes Sasuke is heading off the deep end, the curse of hatred remember?
7: need to start eating again.