Chapter 8 Wraps

"Well, you don't see this every day."

"Senpai... what do you mean?"

"You sulking." He answered, amused, "What's on your mind? Let your troubles known to this old man."

The younger man snorted, "Old man my ass, you're like what, 26,"

The copy-nin smiled through his mask, "27 actually."

"Yeah, basically ancient." He said flippantly.

"By our standards, yes." He said not even flinching when he said that.

The younger man half-smiled at that, "This conversation took a dark turn."

"I suppose." He put an end to that, "I don't know whether or not to sign Aoi up for the chunin exams."

"Hmm... You think that there will be too much pressure on her, with your new promotion and all."

Naruto didn't even bat an eye at that piece of information. He was not even a little surprised. This is Hatake Kakashi he is talking to here, the Copy-nin, the man who mastered 1000 techniques, Hokage almost... candidate.

Naruto didn't need to answer as Kakashi slipped into the stool next to him, ordering miso ramen while doing so. Turning to his blonde companion he spoke, "You shouldn't worry about it so much; the chunin exams aren't the only way she can get promoted."

Now that... was interesting, at least in times of peace. Field promotions were few and far in between, a secondary private exam was the primary method that genin get promoted. The last one was just a few weeks ago, they usually happen once a year.

"You know anything?"

All he got was a slight nod of the head and a hum.

There were a few moments of silence while the waitress brought Kakashi's ramen.

"You heard that the Icha Icha Tactics' author is visiting the village?"

"Really now?"

"Yes, I might even try to get him to sign my precious." He giggled perversely.

Naruto shook his head, "Okay, you do you senpai."

"Now, now little kouhai, you must appreciate art when you see it."

"You know I proofread those, right?"

"Y-you did?" he stared with wide eyes, eye? at the blonde. "D-do you have the latest unreleased one by chance?"

All he got was a slight nod of the head and a hum.

"Now, how about you do me a favor, senpai?"

"Anything!" he shouted, realizing what he did, he coughed into his hand and said, "Within reason, of course."

"Can you take Aoi with you and your team on your next C-rank? I think that she needs to learn how to work with others."

"Has she...?"

"Yes." He said solemnly, "A couple of missions ago, reconnaissance turned extermination." he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Yours?"

"Not yet." He half-smiled, "I think Sasuke knows it has to happen at some point, Kiba as well. Sakura, I honestly don't think that she is ready to lead this kind of life, her family is also pressuring her to leave the program." He sighed.

"And what does she want?"

"Don't know."

"You should talk with her."

"I know."

"..."

"You are 2 hours late, aren't you?"

"Of course." He did his absolutely annoying eye-smile, at least in Naruto's humble opinion, and ate his ramen within milliseconds. He supposed that that is impressive, if not even more infuriating.

"Don't dwell too much on it. It will all work out, and, if it doesn't, you can always count on me to have your back. I will assign my team a C-rank later today at 1400 hours. Be sure to tell Aoi-chan."

"Thank you."

With that, the silver-haired nin disappeared with a seal-less shunshin, leaving Naruto alone in the stand.

Hokage's office, 1400 hours.

Kakashi POV

"Kakashi... do you truly think that they are ready for a higher-ranked mission?"

"Yes, Hokage-Sama, with Aoi-san's help they are more than ready."

"Very well, I have an escort mission for you."

"An escort mission? Ooh! Who are we escorting, a princess, an ambassador, ooh, ooh! A daimyo, it's a daimyo, isn't it?"

The aged Hokage chuckled, not quite, Kiba-Kun, bring them in if you will, Iruka-Kun.

"Of course, Hokage-Sama."

His nose twitched, the smell of alcohol permeating the air. He looked at his Inuzuka student, "He noticed as well.", what surprised him however was Aoi scrunching up her nose and looking around the room to find the source of the smell, "Improved senses? Looks like it.".

"Your mission, Team 7, is to escort Tazuna-san and Arashi-san to Wave country."

"Arashi, that sounds familiar." He thought as he watched the door opening.

"Tazuna-san, can you please put the bottle down, for the time being, I still want a shinobi escort."

"Whatever."

Tazuna, from the look of things, was the gray-haired man with the large sake bottle in his hand.

"What! I paid for shinobi, not for kids! Are you sure they are ninja? They don't even look as if they could protect a cat from a couple of stray dogs! Especially that small brat with the dog."

"Now, now, Tazuna-san," another voice called from just beside the door. The owner of the voice closed it behind him and turned to the room's occupants, "I am sure that they are competent enough to protect us from bandits and the like. "

The man had white hair, not unlike himself, his eyes were a warm red color, faint red markings were present on his cheeks. He knew this man, somehow. He looked very familiar to someone.

"You are indeed correct." Said the Professor.

"Hiruzen-Sama, always a pleasure."

"Arashi-san, likewise, how was your last photoshoot?"

"I had taken lots of wonderful photos for my book. Suna was beautiful last season."

It finally clicked. This was Naruto's disguise that he used in ANBU. "A secondary mission."

"Arashi-san." He said.

"Hmm?" Naruto "No, Arashi," turned to him. "Ah, Kakashi-san, we should catch up before we start the journey, we haven't talked since the last mission I issued, this is your genin team, right?"

"Yes, these are Uchiha Sasuke, Inuzuka Kiba, Haruno Sakura and Mochizuki Aoi, I assure you, they are more than capable of protecting you and Tazuna-san to Wave country."

"Yes, thank you, please take care of me." He smiled joyfully looking at the genin.