Naruto Primer: Future Naruto

Jounin Vest

Naruto was feeling pretty good about himself.  He had just completed the jounin exam tournament about a week ago and, while he didn't actually WIN the tournament, he still felt like he did a good job.  Besides, Shikamaru, the Hokage, had just called him to have a meeting so Naruto felt now more than ever that he was finally going to get that jounin vest.

Ever since he became a chuunin, Naruto had taken every single jounin exam only to be turned down by the Hokage, whether it be the fifth or the sixth one.  But this time he had a good feeling.  He was twenty-four and in the prime of his life and after he became a jounin, the next step was Hokage.

Plus, he had put in more than three years of loyal service to Shikamaru, not to mention the fact that they were friends when they were younger, so he had that much going for him.  All he had to do was walk in there, get his jounin vest and then walk out.

Naruto opened the door to the Hokage's office to find Shikamaru consulting with some other ninjas while looking through the B-Rank mission scroll.

"You wanted to see me, Mr. Hokage Shikamaru Sir?" said Naruto, strolling over.

"One minute." Said Shikamaru as he finished up with his ninja friends and then they left.  Then he faced Naruto.  "Naruto do you think you could go and fetch Sasuke for me?" he asked.  "It would really help a bunch.  If Ino's available, tell her to come too."

Then he went back to his little scrolls.

Naruto waited.

Shikamaru looked back up.  "Are you waiting for something?" Shikamaru asked.

"What about me?" Naruto said.

"No, I need a jounin for this job." Said Shikamaru.  "It's an A-Rank mission."

"Well…" Naruto said slowly.  "What about the jounin exam?"

"What about it?" said Shikamaru, looking annoyed.  "It was entertaining but nothing special happened.  Now please go and get Sasuke for me, please."

"Why don't you ask one of your NEW jounins to help you out?" said Naruto slyly.  "What's this mission about anyway?"

"A distress call from the Hyuugas." Said Shikamaru.  "And there were no new jounins this time around.  I need Sasuke NOW."

"Aren't I a jounin though?" asked Naruto.

Shikamaru sighed and almost dropped all his little scrolls in frustration.  "Naruto." He said.  "No.  New.  Jounins.  Maybe next time."

"What do you mean, 'No new jounins'?!" demanded Naruto, slamming his hands down on Shikamaru's desk.  "I have been in all of these exams and every single time you say 'maybe next time'!"

"Naruto…" said Shikamaru, leaning over.  "You're just too reckless to be a jounin.  You'd get everyone in your entire team killed.  You and Kiba both.  Maybe you two should get together and train a bit."

"Shikamaru, you don't understand, I NEED to be Hokage." Said Naruto.

Shikamaru glared at Naruto for a moment.  "Do I have to get someone else to get Sasuke?" he said.

"No, I'LL get him." Said Naruto angrily as he stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

Naruto didn't see why everyone else got to be jounins when he didn't.  He should have been nicer to Shikamaru when they were younger.  "I bet the only reason why Chouji's a jounin is because he's friends with Shikamaru!" said Naruto.  "I can't be the LAST one to stay a chuunin!  Stupid Sasuke being a jounin… stupid Shikamaru being Hokage…"

Naruto figured that he'd just train harder than ever and become a jounin during the next exam.