Naomi is tied to Naruto and will have some scenes and moments with him I think but never completely with one exception of a crossover... I see one mission where they will work together.

This is short as it is the introduction to the new arc.

Naruto had like eight D ranks before the chunin exams, it was almost nothing...

The week went by quickly, and Naomi found herself enjoying her life for the first time in a while. She had fallen into a nice routine, solo training every day from six in the morning to nine in the morning where she finally found time to practice with her claws though she had to readjust her schedule a little bit to accommodate it. Then she and her teammates would either spar together or work on a D rank missions until three in the afternoon. She would train with Hana from four to eight, then she would work more with her claws and then spend the rest of her night reading on something she had stored in her house from the library.

There had been serious progress made between her and her comrades. All three of them now were wearing weights at Naomi's suggestions and it showed, even after only a week. Ami was the least affected due to her great strength and inherit durability so she had to up her weights earlier, where as Yura was the most affected as she was the physically weakest of them and couldn't compensate like the other two could. Naomi only really noticed a massive difference with her weights when she did her replacement circuits as the extra weight made it much harder to replace with objects, though she just saw it as extra practice for her. The fact that they now knew the Surface and Water walking exercise through Yura's training really helped them use their chakra to compensate for the extra weight towards the end of their training days or mission days.

Individually they all made progress as well. Yura was working subtly with a new tanto that Aoba had bought her. Only in practice and only after Aoba made sure that no Hyuuga's were nearby enough to use the Byakugan to see her work. She already had a talent for it, which showed, but she still had to work hard and sparred with her teammates constantly to really hone her talents. She seemed to dance around them, her great speed and natural talent showcased through her deadly application with the weapon.

Ami was practicing a circuit of speed and agility on her own, inspired by Naomi's own circuits and while her progress was not as impressive as Yura's she showed intense determination and that meant a lot. She had worked so hard on it she lost a solid five pounds in just a week! It mostly involved different exercises, hoping on boards and platforms, sprinting between obstacles, doing dance moves and Katas for some of her obstacles. She never left without a firm coating of sweat and exhaustion.

Then there Naomi who had finally mastered the shushin for normal use though she still had room before it became battle ready. She added it to her substitution circuit, mixing it and using it interchangeably but the sudden speed was leaving her dizzy and sore after too many uses. It was her goal to master that simple technique to the point it was jonin level and turned it into a battle ready maneuver like the Fourth Hokage had said to have done. She promised herself that if she mastered it she would try her first elemental jutsu, but only if she had enough chakra to master it... and only after she learned the shuriken shadow clone jutsu.

She had also picked up some more advanced medical techniques from Hana. Nothing jutsu related, yet, but she had more hands on experience with putting on bandages, establishing wound severity and how to recognize more poisonous plants and their effects. It was actually quite informative.

Mio also showed great progress, with only a week of training she could find and react to chakra usually by hissing at it. She could do it at a distance already, of about a third of a mile. They were trying to get her to meow at familiar scents or chakras but that was a bit too complex so far. She could also respond to Stop, Return and Sit, which was serious progress. Naomi started to write down jutsu theories for her beloved feline, usually involving her hair that she constantly shed and consumed. She had a few ideas for a fire jutsu that would create smoke with the hair but again it was only a theory at that point.

Overall it had been an incredibly fun and productive week... then it all changed when they received their first C rank mission.

"""

"I think you ladies are ready for your first C rank. You've completed ten D ranks perfectly and you have shown considerably responsibility in your independent training as well as with your sensei. Naomi, normally Miss Mio would be banned from attending but without a sitter I will allow it for now. Just keep her in check." The Hokage's words were soft but stern, and it resonated with all three of the Genin girls.

Naomi bowed her head in thanks. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

"Not a problem my dear, now, what mission shall you all partake in... hmmm... I have an idea, since Naomi and Naruto have gotten along so well together. His team has recently been given a C rank mission to Wave. While I do not assume anything of a negative nature will occur it is always best to be prepared, so you will go with that team and work along side them for their new mission. However unlike them your mission is not just to protect the bridge builder but to see if you can establish a trading order with Wave. They may be poor but they do have access to many great routes."

Aoba nodded. "I can see if I can arrange that, Lord Hokage."

"See that you do, Aoba. The girls would do well with learning this side of mission, where combat is not the sole need but diplomacy. Miss Yura is a Hyuuga and has had experience with Diplomacy training. She may come in handy, so do not forget that."

"We will not, Lord Hokage. When do we leave?"

"In one hour, if Kakashi is on time for once. Go and pack and meet them at the gates." He handed them a scroll, one he had quickly scribbled a note on. "Give that to Kakashi, and he will know to allow you on the mission."

"""

"What to bring, what to bring..." Naomi only had so much time, and quickly packed her bag with what she thought she needed. Some snacks for Mio and some cat food, a sleeping bag and some healing supplies from her lessons with Hana. She put on her three pouches, two leg pouches and one hip pouch. They were filled with kunai, Shuriken, Senbon, wire, paper bombs, a few light bombs and a few other bits. She naturally had her claws tied to her waist, even if it wasn't wise to use them in combat yet due to her lack of experience. "I think that's enough... let's go Mio."

Her beloved Feline followed her out of the door and across the rooftops until they reached the entrance to the Leaf Village where Naruto and his crew were all ready to go. Aoba was there early, naturally, explaining things to Kakashi she presumed. That didn't seem to matter to Naruto who charged at her,.

"MIO, NAOMI!" Threw himself at her, forcing her to hug him with a sigh. "I missed you guys, how have you been?" He picked up the meowing Mio and covered her happy frame in loving pets.

"We've been good Naruto, training hard. How about you? Do you like your team?" The surge of annoyance in Naruto's eyes made it clear that things were not okay on his end.

"We've done a lot of Teamwork exercises... and a few missions. Eight I think... hey you've got a cat, how do you catch them? We have this demon named Tora that-"

"Stop, that was our first mission." Naomi shuddered. "That cat is psycho, she attacked Mio and nearly hurt her. I am lucky I am really fast, otherwise she would have killed Mio." Turning over, she smiled as her teammates approached. "Naruto, this is Ami Akamichi and Yura Hyuuga, two badass kunoichi and my awesome teammates. Their very, very talented and nice. I am sure they would be happy to be your friend too."

With a rare shyness, Naruto turned to the girls. " Hi."

Ami, naturally, beamed a smile. " Hi Naruto, I know were in class together but it is nice to meet you beyond that."

Yura bowed a little. "It is nice to meet you Naruto."

The boy beamed happily and despite her annoyance with him, Naomi was glad for him. He deserved more friends... he didn't deserve his fate.

"Alrighty everyone, time to get going." Aoba said, smiling at everyone. "Best behavior, remember you represent the village from the moment you leave it. Never forget that."

And with that, they all took their first steps out of the village and into the real world... leaving them a sense of wonder and awe as finally, finally they were going to experience the real world.

Would they be ready... who knew, they could only hope.

"""

After a while of walking, Naomi turned to Naruto. " How'd you get a C rank mission?" She was curious, Sakura wasn't that powerful and Naruto was kind of... limited to say the least. It felt weird for their team to get a C rank so early when they were so behind. They weren't as powerful as her team, not by a long shot.

Naruto actually blushed. "I... Uh... I complained about how tired I was with the kid missions and the Old Man let us go on this mission."

"Really?" She looked at him with annoyance. "I know your familiar with him but outside of his office you need to call him Lord Hokage, to show that he is to be respected. It can been seen as insubordination from the wrong ninja. Be careful."

He flinched. "I, I didn't know that."

"Now you know, so just be careful with it. Now, how has your training been? I have been working on a lot myself, mostly with Mio and my claws. I am working on the shushin, the body flicker to you I think."

"Um... just team work exercises."

"Really? That's it... are you working on your own? You know you can get the library and learn new jutsu that way? That's how I learned the Shushin, I taught myself."

"Wow, you really must be smart!"

She shrugged. "I am but I also work hard, and that is more important. Tell you what, come to my house on Sunday and we'll make you a training routine. Sound fair?"

His face could not hold his happiness. "That sounds great! Thank you."

"Not a problem." Though inside she sighed. 'What did I get myself into... just great... still he could be great even if his teacher is teaching him shit. Stupid biased people, it's not his fault he has a the-"

"HISSS!" She froze turning to Mio, who fur was rankled up. She was looking around before he eyes focused on a random puddle in the road, hatefully hissing at it.

Naomi knew immediately that something was wrong and turned to Naruto, leaning in to whisper. "Someone's nearby, an enemy. Be quiet."

She felt the eyes of her teammates, he knew what the Hiss meant. She nodded to them and they readied themselves, with Yura reaching for her sword and Ami cracking her knuckles. The Jonin sensei turned to her, with Kakashi smirking just a little. Aoba was nodding slowly and making a shushing sound very quietly.

Sakura, who heard the hiss, was confused and Sasuke was alert.

They were ready... kind of.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was fun and I love writing the friendship between Naruto and Naomi.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.