Title : Growth

Author : Wolfs Catalyst

Disclaimer : I don't own any of the Naruto characters, I'd tell you who does but I cant spell the blokes name.

Summary : Sasuke's decision influences Naruto's and Hinata's lives more than they thought possible. The pairings are going to be NaruHina with a bit of SasuSaku, ShikaIno and maybe others.

Text : 'Blah blah' = Thoughts

'Blah blah' = Kyubi talking

*Blah blah* = Memory/Flashback

Thanks to all my reviewers, your feedback keeps me going ! I'm glad people liked the song in the last chapter, like I said I felt it suited the mood very well ^_^

Although I just realized that the link to the lyrics page on the last chapter didn't show up for some reason.

Chapter 5

The day was ending as Konoha's rescue team finally arrived home. Many of the Leaf's villagers were rushing through the streets doing their last minute shopping, paying no heed to the newly arrived ninja's.

Naruto was feeling tired, the wounds that Hinata had bandaged earlier that day still hadn't healed. During one of their breaks Naruto had entered the recesses of his mind to demand the nine tails do it's work and heal him. The answer he had gotten was a cruel laugh and a promise that he would never be healed again unless his life hung in the balance. Naruto figured that the fox was still pissed about the fact that he had not killed Sasuke.

With a shrug and a yawn he concentrated on staying awake, as Gai made arrangements with other Jounin as to where their new prisoners would be stored.

"Oyoy Gai hurry up! I've got a bowl of ramen waiting for me at Ichikaru's place"

"Heh only one?" Shikamaru smirked

"Keep talking like that and I'll eat your bowl too" Naruto replied sticking out his tongue "any way I'm too tiered to keep carrying this Uchiha around!" he ended with a shout.

At the shout of Uchiha, the villagers closest to the group stopped and stared curiously at the unconscious boy Naruto was carrying. Suddenly whispers broke out among the villagers only half herd by the ninja's

"They've got him back?"

"Uchiha's been brought back"

"The fox brat got him"

Until a loud cry rang out "Well I'll be! You got him back!" the crowed parted as a man made his way closer to the group. He stood around five feet tall with close cropped grey hair and a large beak for a nose, his dull grey eyes narrowed to tiny slits as they fixed on Naruto. His teeth showed, crooked and yellow in a nasty smirk. Breath reeking of alcohol as he spoke.

"So you got him back……..freak" the man spoke, slightly slurring his words.

Naruto's eyes widened in shock, he knew this man well. Memories flooded his mind.

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* The six year old Uzumaki Naruto was very excited, after all it wasn't every day that you went to get your hair cut. Usually his hair would be cut by one of his minders, but today was different, he had begged and pleaded with the old Hokage until the Third had given in. Today Naruto would find a barbers shop and get his hair cut anyway he wanted! Not just shortened as his minders did, ignoring his protests.

The little six year old walked slowly down the street careful to avoid the people bustling past him, for some reason they never moved out of his way. Naruto was sure if he didn't dodge them he would be ran over by the grown ups. Maybe they were just to busy to see him? But as he dodged and weaved he saw other children his age moving easily through the crowd. Silently vowing never to be too busy to let children by when he grew up Naruto continued on. But it didn't matter, nothing would dampen his spirits today because he was getting whatever haircut he wanted! Seeing his destination Naruto increased his pace, dodging all the while. Ignoring the irritated villagers cries of "brat!" and "watch where you're going!"

Arriving outside the barber shop Naruto Looked at the sign on the door and counted his money

ADULTS: £5.00

CHILDREN: £2.00

Grinning he stepped into the shop, he had brought exactly the right amount!

Looking around the shop he rushed to the barber babbling excitedly "Hey hey!! I came to get my haircut you're still open right!?"

The barber who had been sweeping hair from under the seats turned to Naruto with a smile on his face, his face hardening as he saw the whisker marks on the little boys cheeks, dull grey eye's glinting with anger.

"Yes" he said simply.

The small boy didn't notice the menacing gleam in the barbers eyes as he looked around the shop in wonder "WOW do you use all these things!?" Naruto asked pointing at the various scissors, gels and shavers on display.

Ignoring the child's question the man motioned for him to take a seat, quickly obeying Naruto looked at the barber in the mirror. Stifling a laugh he tried not to stare at the mans beak like nose too much. Then he studied himself; a round face looked back at him, whisker like marks on each cheek with a brilliant white grin and cerulean blue eyes. Some people said he was a cute looking kid, normally surprising themselves about speaking well of the Kyubi. It angered Naruto, he didn't want to look cute! He wanted to look fierce like the Hokage's on their memorials. Pulling a fierce face he looked in the mirror……that was better! But pulling faces soon lost interest, he focused on his blond hair. Normally in short gold spikes around his head Naruto had let it grow.

He had let it grow to his shoulders causing many of the kids in the academy to make fun of him, but then they made fun of him all the time anyway so it didn't make any real difference. But they'd see he thought confidently, 'When I turn up tomorrow they'll eat their words! Everyone will want to be my friend' Grinning happily Naruto began making plans about who he would let into his select circle of friends.

'Of course I'll let Sakura - chan be my best friend, and that Shino kid, he's never said anything bad to me. Hmm but then he hardly talks at all. I wo-'

"Hey kid, I said what kind of haircut do you want?" the barber asked beginning to look angry

"Oh" Naruto replied startled, taking a picture from his pocket he gave it to the man.

The man looked at the picture the blond boy had given him, a look of fury flashing across his face so fast that Naruto thought he might have imagined it. Returning the picture to Naruto the man gave a sickly smile revealing crooked yellow teeth "Sure kid, just settle down"

Naruto jabbered away as the barber went to work, after all it wasn't often that anyone would listen to him speak. Only the Third listened and he didn't have much time to spend with him, running the village was busy work, the minders he was often left with simply told him to shut up. But because the barber wasn't saying anything, Naruto decided to take advantage of the fact and so he talked. He talked about his class mates, his favorite ramen, T.V show, about the monsters underneath his bed and of course how he was going to become the next Hokage.

Locks of golden hair slowly drifted to the floor, building up as the work progressed. Naruto's constant chatter drifted away, his mouth hanging open in amazement at what was taking place. It was happening! It was really going to work!

Finally the barber stopped asking "What do you think kid?"

Naruto stared at his reflection his eye's going wide as saucers…….it was perfect! His hair looked exactly like his hero's.

"I really do look like the Fourth Hokage! Mister you're the best" Naruto breathed his eyes nearly luminescent with happiness.

And he did, his blond hair had been shaped to resemble the Fourth's to the last hair 'Wait till they see this tomorrow!'

The man above him didn't crack a smile and simply asked for his money. Digging out the money from his coat pocket Naruto handed it to the man, just as he was about to hop off the chair the barber's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Where's the rest of the cash kid?"

Naruto blinked up at him puzzled "What? The sign outside said that children pay only two-"

The man's previously blank face turned into a nasty sneer "You read it wrong"

Naruto was begging to get angry now " No I didn't it said that children-"

Cutting him of again the man gave a sharp laugh " You're not a child!"

"Of course I am! What are you blind, you old codger!?" Naruto shouted trying to get up.

The man's face hardened even further " No you're no child, what you are is a disgusting, filthy, FREAK!" he bellowed the last word, frightening the small child "and in this shop freaks pay extra"

The frightened Naruto tried to get up but the barbers hand clamped down more firmly onto his shoulder, he could feel the mans uncut nails digging into his skin.

With a yelp Naruto tried harder to move, the hand simply clamping down harder.

"Look mister, I gave you all my money, I don't have anymore here. But if you let me go I'll come back with the rest, I swear!" the six year old begged, trying his hardest not to cry.

"Oh so you're a thief as well as a freak, you come into my shop, get a haircut and you don't even have the money to pay me!" his face turning red as he spoke, spittle flying from his mouth.

Naruto could only watch in horror as the barber took a hair shaver and switched it on, the buzz of the machine filling the shop. "Just as well really, filth like you shouldn't be copying great men like the Fourth Hokage, see this is what I do to those who cant pay in my shop" as he spoke the hair shaver came closer to Naruto's hair.

Frantic now the boy tried desperately to escape his chair, tears leaking from his eyes, he pleaded "Please don't cut my hair I'll return with the money I swear!"

"Move again and I'll cut your ear off" the barber hissed, Naruto didn't doubt him for a second.

Then the barber began, with rough strokes of the shaver he destroyed his earlier work.

Kyubi's container could do nothing but watch as his hair was shaven from his head, fat tears leaking from his eyes. Numbly Naruto wondered why the barber had cut his hair at all, he was sure that no matter the amount of money he brought would have been enough to spare his new haircut. Then he realized 'It hurts me more if this way'. The barber could have thrown him out of the shop straight away, but then that wouldn't have given him the satisfaction of hurting the boy.

Finally it was done, laughing the barber threw him from the chair "There you go, enjoy! Now I will keep this between us, I'm sure you wouldn't want anybody finding out what a disgusting thief you are, eh freak?" The man said with false cheeriness.

His cheeriness vanished, turning into hate, his eye's chips of granite "But if I hear that you've been spreading tales about me I'll be paying you a visit. Do you understand me?"

Too scared to answer Naruto ran, he ran through the streets tears blinding his vision making him stumble into angry villagers. He didn't care, he hated them all and most of all he hated himself for letting them do this to him. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. Just last week a shopkeeper had taken his money and refused to give him his sweets. Another time, he had been chased off a swing by an angry parent when he wouldn't give it to his child.

'It was my swing' Naruto thought furiously 'all the others were free but he only wanted my swing'

Naruto didn't know why he was singled out, why he was treated with such anger and hate. But it didn't matter 'it's not as if they were trying to kill him, right?' They never hurt him, well the adults didn't. Their children were another matter. He had once heard the saying 'What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger' Naruto took it to heart. They hadn't killed him yet, right? They were making him stronger, and he would need all the strength he could get to become Hokage. So whenever the taunts became too much, or he was cornered by a group of kids, he would repeat the saying as the fists fell "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" over and over until they were finished. Of course sometimes he fought back, but there were always too many. It was a good thing he healed quickly, or the Third would have realized what had happened. Naruto didn't want him to know. He didn't want to show his weakness to the man he looked up to.

Reaching his apartment he unlocked his door, running to the bathroom. He stopped as he came to the mirror, and looked at himself. His face seemed too big without his usual bright blond hair to frame it, bringing to prominence even more his sapphire blue eyes, red rimmed from his recent tears. Running his hand along the shaven hair he winced and willed himself not to cry again, they would laugh at him tomorrow. The whole academy would laugh when they saw him, Naruto could hear the taunts already; "Hey look it's baldy locks!" and "Hello egghead!" There was nothing he could do now. He knew if he told anyone the barber could simply say that Naruto had asked him for this cut, it would be an orphans word against a businessman's, and he knew without a doubt who would come on top. He was powerless. But that would change, he would become stronger. And when that happened, he would make them acknowledge him. For some, there would be hell to pay.

With surprise Naruto saw he was crying again, he wiped away the tears, all the while gently repeating "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger" *

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He remembered that day well, it was one of the clearest memories of his childhood. He had been right about the taunts as well. The next day at the academy had been hell. Even Mizuki - sensei could not keep the laughter out of his voice, as he had asked if this was the amazing new haircut Naruto had been telling everyone he would get.

Knowing the consequences if he told the truth Naruto had simply nodded, which set the class of to more laughter. Keeping his face straight had took a lot of effort, he wanted to shout and scream, to rage that his haircut had been ruined by a spiteful old man. But he kept his face blank, looking around the class noticing the few who didn't laugh. Shino, Chouji and Hinata, out of the whole class only those three remained silent, Hinata even gave him a sympathetic look. The other three misfits of the class; Shino who kept to himself, Chouji who was picked on because of his looks and Hinata who's shyness set her apart from the rest. They all understood what it was like to be treated differently. Remembering Naruto thanked them all.

Focusing on the present he stared at the drunken barber before him. It took all of Naruto's will power not to kill the man where he stood. Clenching his fists he heard is voice shake with anger as he spoke "Yeah I got Uchiha back old man, what's it got to do with you?"

Hearing the tremor in Naruto's voice the drunken man stepped closer to the Genin, mistaking anger for fear "What's it got to do with me? You filthy little runt corrupt one of our finest ninja's and you ask what it's got to do with me? A loyal citizen of the Leaf!" the man continued his rant his face turning red, spittle flying from his mouth "You turned the last Uchiha against us! As if the poor kid didn't have enough on his plate seeing his whole family killed in front of him. On top of that he had to get put into your team. It only took you a year to corrupt our finest, but I shouldn't be surprised, a monster like you can only destroy. It's in your blood. No, it's in your soul. You're nothing but a freak and a thief who will never amount to anything, living off our village like a parasite"

Naruto felt his mouth hanging open in shock, his anger momentarily replaced by surprise. They were going to pin Sasuke's betrayal on him!?

Staring into his former tormentors eye's Naruto made himself smile, not his usual foxy grin but a smile filled with the threat of violence. His usually warm eyes were transformed to chips of cold blue steel. Taking out a kunai he began to idly spin it in his hands, he had overheard in one of Ibiki's lectures that simply playing with a kunai while talking seemed to make even the most veteran shinobi's nervous. As his initial anger passed and he began to think more clearly, Naruto realized that he wanted to frighten the man in front of him and nothing more.

Had this happened a year earlier, Naruto was sure that the barber would be carrying his teeth home in a bag, but Iruka - sensei had changed him more than he'd realized. His teachers acceptance of what he was had lessened Naruto's hatred of the other villagers, if only by a hair. But that hair was made the difference between this mans life and death. Idly Naruto wondered how Gaara would deal with this situation and shuddered, Iruka - sensei had stopped him from becoming like the sand nin, and for that Naruto was eternally thankful. Still sometimes it was hard keeping his temper, didn't they realize he could kill them if he wanted to?

He was about to speak when he saw Hinata move into his line of vision.

"Who are you?" her voice was quite as always, but where before it had been gentle now it was cold as ice.

Turning to the new arrival the barber started hurling abuse at the girl. Naruto was about to level the man, Iruka - sensei's influence or no. But as another curse was about to leave his lips the man's eyes widened, they seemed to be fixed on Hinata's pale eyes.

"H - Hyuuga" he whispered, his voice tinged with shock.

"Who are you?" Hinata repeated, this time with a firm note of command mixed within the ice.

Naruto was astonished to see the man who had only seconds earlier been insulting Hinata fall down on his knee's, arms outstretched before him, head bent in supplication.

"I-I am Hidoi Gen, Hyuuga - sama" voice thick with his fear.

About to ask what the hell was going on Naruto stopped himself when he looked at Hinata. Her face, usually serene had changed, the soft smile that normally graced her lips had disappeared, only the slight narrowing of her eyes and thinness of her lips betrayed her anger. Her entire carriage had also transformed, the normally shy girl, usually stood with her shoulders slightly hunched and her hands in front of her self as if to protect from some unseen attack. Now head held high, arms resting lightly behind her back she looked at Gen as one would at a particularly disgusting bug.

"Well master Gen your behavior and harsh words" she paused for a moment as if searching for a word to describe her feelings "deeply disgust me" all delivered in the same cold tone, until the last words which were practically growled. All the while her eyes fixed on the now cowering man as if daring him to raise his head.

"Hyuuga - sama" Gen panted desperately, he seemed to be hyper ventilating "I w-was only insulting the brat, I-I never meant anything I said to you Hyuuga - sama, I had a little too m-much to drink and spoke before I realized who you were"

Eyes narrowing even further, it seemed that Hinata would lose her composure to fury, her voice lowered even more yet somehow still carried to the crowed that had gathered "And it is that behavior which is the cause of my anger master Gen"

"Mistress that freak doesn't deserve your concern! He is filth-" Gen cried raising his face, his fear conquered by his old hate of Naruto.

"Be quite" It seemed that Hinata was trying to impale Gen with her stare alone, and by the look on the barbers face she was doing a good job of it. Standing slightly behind her Naruto saw her hands shaking with suppressed anger.

"Since the moment I met you master Gen you have talked nothing but filth and lies, you speak of the business of your betters as if it is your own. Uchiha Sasuke's betrayal of the leaf will be dealt by the ninja's of this village, and I will not have you reliving him of his own responsibilities and placing them on others" she paused momentarily to drive the point home with another hard stare. "And if I ever hear such lies coming from your mouth again, the full power of the Hyuuga clan will fall on your shoulders" pausing she looked directly into his eyes "and when it falls master Gen, I will make sure it crushes you to dust"

Deathly silence followed, it seemed that people were afraid to breath. "That includes the rest of you" Hinata said turning her hard stare on the gaping crowd, making grown men and women flinch.

The formerly drunk barber was now stone sober and by the look on his pale face, was about to be sick Realizing what the consequences of throwing up on a Hyuuga's feet would be, his face paled even further. He barley waited for Hinata's disgusted command of "Go" before running from the ninja's as if nine tails it's self was pursuing him. Seeing the barber flee the crowd began to disperse rapidly, afraid to gain the attention of the angered Hinata.

Exhaling the air she hadn't even known she was holding, Hinata turned to the others. Gai and the Jounin's with him seemed stupefied at the display. Lee looked at her and gave her a nod, a grim smile on his face. Shikamaru a smirk on his face merely leaned against a building drawling a "I didn't know you had it in you" only his slightly rounded eyes betrayed his surprise. While Naruto looked at her like he had never seen her before " How did you do that?" he gaped.

Feeling uncomfortable at all the attention she was receiving Hinata lost her assertive stance and replied in her usual soft voice "I didn't like the way he was treating you Naruto -kun, all those lies made me angry. I'm sorry I should have let you handle it"

"What? No that was amazing, just when I think I know all your skills you show new ones. You're going to have to teach me how to speak like that" shaking his head in surprise, Naruto's eyes burned with admiration.

Seeing that look directed at her Hinata felt her blush return with a vengeance. Twiddling her fore fingers together furiously she began speaking quickly, her eyes glued to her feet "As the heir of the Hyuuga clan I was taught how to assert myself, it's just I'd never managed to actually pull it off until now"

Hinata remembered bitterly those lessons. They had only come after her defeat by her younger sister, Hinabi. Her training lessons from her father were replaced by lessons taught by Hyuuga Kuugen, of the ruling branch family. He was a kindly old man who had gently taught her diplomacy, poetry etiquette as well as how to assert herself.

Unknown to many there were a hundred and one ways to insult guests of various countries or hidden villages if you weren't careful. She could hear Kuugen - sensei's dry old voice in her head now, lecturing her; "One must bow three centimeters more to a feudal lord of the wind than one of the wave. One must never cross hands in one's lap, while speaking to an emissary from the hidden village of Grass. Fore in the village of Grass crossed hands symbolize treachery. One must never touch one's hair while in the presence of the Mizukage" Later she had seen a picture of the Mizukage, in her opinion the bald old coot took offence that other people had hair to touch. Of course Hinata would never voice such thoughts aloud, she was too polite. But those dry points, and many others had to be painstakingly learnt. She had hated it.

Not because of Kuugen - sensei, he was a kind and patient teacher. It was the fact that she had been shoved aside, her father didn't see the point in training someone as weak as Hinata, so he spent all his time with his younger daughter. Almost completely ignoring her, unless it was to berate her for her poor ninja skills or lack of assertiveness and confidence.

Truly she had never managed to raise her voice to anyone, finding it hard to even issue a command without mumbling, she had despaired. Still, Hinata had learnt everything that Kuugen - sensei had taught her. Even without the ability to implement all the skills she had learnt Hinata had persevered, using Naruto as an example, she didn't giving up.

Upon hearing the vile words leaving Hidoi Gen's mouth she had acted instinctively to protect Naruto from him. She had seen dread, almost horror in the blond Genin's sapphire eyes as he recognized the drunken man. Before she knew what she was doing she approached the man and stopped him. Seeing the looks of shock from her team mates she wasn't surprised, she was shocked too.

'I don't believe I stood up to him like that'

It felt good to protect someone she cared about. Even though it wasn't through fighting, her method had been just as effective if not more so in this situation. It was a small step to her gaining true confidence in her abilities, yet a step never the less.

'It's amazing what I can do just being around Naruto - kun' she thought with a smile while looking at the hyperactive shinobi.

The said shinobi was still looking at her, and seemed to be in deep thought. His brow creased in what Hinata considered a cute manner. He absently rubbed a whisker like birthmark, his tongue sticking out of his mouth slightly. As she met his eyes he started, still rubbing his whiskered cheek furiously "Hinata - chan why did that jerk start kneeling as soon as he recognized you?" he blurted out. Hinata had the impression that he had just made up the question to distract her from something, but what?

Naruto knew what, he had found him self staring again. Since waking from his battle against Sasuke, he had become very aware of the quite girl that had saved him. At times during the day when they had stopped for breaks his eyes would always seek her out. He couldn't help it! It's like they had a life of their own, that wasn't the worst thing either. Every time he looked at her, he would become fixated, and turn almost incoherent.

Her dark blue hair, her full lips or soft lavender eyes, Naruto couldn't believe that he had found those same eyes weird before. 'Maybe I wasn't looking deeply enough, when the sunlight hits them it seems as if they're glowing' he thought goofily, then started for the second time. 'I was staring again!' he almost wailed in his mind. And every time he began looking at her his hand would start rubbing his whisker birthmark of it's own accord. With surprise he realized he was doing it now! Jerking his hand away from his face as if burnt Naruto prayed that she hadn't noticed his strange behavior.

Gai walked closer to them, leaving the other Jounin's to discuss the prisoners and answered Naruto's question. "The Hyuuga clan is the most powerful and influential clan in the leaf, by some they are considered almost royalty. The locals tread lightly around the ruling branch members and treat them with respect knowing that an angry member of the Hyuuga clan can make life very difficult. Many years ago an influential and wealthy merchant thought he was equal to the leading Hyuuga in rank and demanded that he be treated as a equal by the clan head. Insulted by this merchant, the clan leader used his influence to completely bankrupt the man. It is not a good thing to anger the Hyuuga"

"Hai, that was my grandfather, he was a very prideful person" Hinata added.

"So you just gave my the protection of the most powerful clan in the village" Naruto seemed stunned "That's one of the nicest things anyone's every done for me" he finished quietly his eyes downcast.

He looked so vulnerable at that moment that Hinata had an enormous urge to run over and hug him "You would do the same for me" she answered him impulsively, startling them both.

Looking deeply into her eyes Naruto nodded "You know I would" his voice filled with a quite determination. His eyes darkening with some emotion Hinata could not name. Standing transfixed she lost her self again in his gaze, and he in hers.

Gai spoke, startling them "Come on guys, the Fifth wants her report" with a knowing smile at the two, he began walking to Tsunade's office followed by Lee.

Blushing yet again, Naruto began silently berating himself for being caught staring. Had he turned around he would have saw an identical blush spreading across Hinata's face. Deciding to take his frustration out on Shikamaru, who had dozed off during Gai's explanation of the Hyuuga. Naruto cuffed the lazy Chunnin, waking him with a start.

"Hey what's the idea Naruto!? I was just dreaming of having a nice nap" Yawned the disgruntled Shikamaru.

"You're so lazy you dream of sleeping!?" Shouted Naruto as he dragged Konoha's laziest ninja behind him, catching up to the rest of the team.

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The Fifth Hokage sat behind her desk glaring at the men before her. The delegation from the sand had arrived earlier that morning intent on discussing the finer points of the alliance treaty. Which was basically to say the were trying to get Tsunade to sweeten the deal for them.

She had just half an hour before finished surgery on Hyuuga Neji. Seeing the injuries the boy had received worried her deeply. She found her mind flashing to thoughts Naruto, hoping the young ninja was all right. In short she didn't have the time or patience to deal with these idiots.

Taking deep breaths Tsunade forced her self to calm down and focus at the task at hand.

They had balls, she would give them that! Balls that she would happily remove given the chance, but she was not going to kill them, she wasn't!

She did however nearly lose control when she noticed that one of the 'honorable' guests was staring at her chest, immediately she stopped breathing as deeply. If looks could kill the sand diplomat would have been atomized on the spot by Tsunade's death glare. 'At least the fool has the grace to look embarrassed' she thought.

'I must be calm and diplomatic, just like Sarutobi - sensei'

"Let me get this straight, you want me to send my shinobi to help protect the hidden Sand from a threat that may be none existent" she was proud of herself, she hadn't growled once!

The leader of the delegation slouched even more in his chair as he explained the 'dire' circumstances of the hidden Sand village "Tsunade - sama I would hardly consider the hidden Stone's increasing interest in our village to be a none existent threat. Their patrols along our borders have increased heavily and we are certain that they have began to retrieve information which will help them in an attack on our territory" all delivered in the same oily tone, in fact the entire man was oily. Oily hair, oily face, oily everything! It made Tsunade want to fry him a little. Never good with names, she had forgotten his already 'From this moment on I dub you; "oil boy"'

"And you want me to help you with a possible threat, while we rebuild our village from the damage your shinobi helped cause, have you forgotten that we are still fighting back the Sound. Your former allies"

'Now there was only a little growl there, still doing well Tsunade!'

Picking his teeth with a toothpick the man continued as if she hadn't spoken "It would not be advantageous for you to break our alliance so soon. Who knows, the elders might take offence and look to other sources for help"

Which was diplomat lingo for "Do what I say or we will join the Sound and destroy you"

The last statement on top of all the disrespect they had shown for her, her home and now this new treaty of alliance, not even six months old yet. It was too much for the Fifth to handle.

Rising from her chair she slammed her fist onto the table startling the smug looking sand nin's

"Now I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but you will not come to my home and threaten my village with this shit. All of us here know that if you break our alliance….again and join with the Sound that Konoha will be destroyed. Now you think to use that as a bargaining chip, you think this new Hokage will give you anything you want just to stay on your good side. Well listen to this you desert rat; if you break this treaty I will make sure, even if it's the last thing I do to bring your miserable excuse for a village down with me"

Oil boy almost fell out of his chair and looked like he was going to throw up. 'I love diplomacy' Tsunade all but purred in her mind.

"You cant do that! You don't have the military power to fight both the Sand and Sound" oil boy said gasping.

"Oh I didn't say fight, but I vow on my life even as Konoha burns around me I will accompany the strongest of our shinobi, and as Konoha dies we will fall on your village and crush it" she growled.

"You wouldn't do that, you couldn't leave your own village to die!" oil boy replied jumping up from his seat, his earlier arrogance replaced by nervousness.

"As you may know I am a gambler, …….do you want to bet?"

A muffled snicker was heard followed by a quiet "The legendary sucker"

Behind Tsunade with a loud 'ping' Morino Ibiki took a kunai from his leg holster.

"Peace" Tsunade said without turning.

With a barely audible shrug Ibiki started nonchalantly cleaning his nails with the kunai, his eyes locked on sand diplomats. He was a chilling sight. Next to Ibiki, Izuka was visibly sneering at the men. He looked eager to use the serrated daggers clearly visible all over his person. As well he did, his wife had died in the recent attack orchestrated by Sound and Sand.

Tension rose in the room, Tsunade could almost taste it "Ah yes my nickname, well you should know that while I may be bad at regular games of chance, every gamble I have made on the battle field has paid off. After all I wouldn't be alive if it hadn't. If you decide to back us into a corner with this, who knows what we might do. After all a cornered tiger fights hardest. Are you willing to test that theory?"

The last statement, as well as the two dangerous looking men behind the Fifth finally broke the backbone of the diplomats.

Seeing their spirit break the Fifth made some demands of her own "Now this is how it's going to be; we keep the treaty we have at the moment. Plus on top of that we are going to add that if any sand ninja's are found Leaf territory for, let's say the next five years will result in your swift and brutal death" Tsunade finished sweetly.

"W-what!? You cant keep us here!" One of the diplomats exclaimed "Our fathers are the most influential members of the Sand council with the Kazekage gone. They will have your head!"

"I think not, that is not if they want to keep their son's alive anyway, they were fools to send such weak and stupid shinobi's into enemy territory. They really thought I would just roll over and let you do what every you wanted"

Slapping her hand down on the table twice caused ten ANBU to immediately burst into the room

"Hold them down" Tsunade told them as the five Sand diplomats tried to fight their way out.

After a short scuffle all the delegation were stopped from escaping. Two of the ANBU were Nara clan members and held the men tightly in the shadow bind jutsu.

"Another thing I will add to the treaty, I want one of your teams to help us defend Konoha, I reserve the right to call upon one team any time in the future. Notice I haven't been too greedy, only one team and I will let your elders choose the team. Now I cant be more generous than that can I?" Tsunade asked them sweetly.

After half an hour of pouting the 'diplomats' or fools as Tsunade had taken to calling them signed the new treaty. That done they were escorted by the ANBU to the dungeons.

"You know they wont survive down there for five years" Ibiki told her when the Sand nin's had gone.

"I know I'll only keep them there a week then I'll move them to a more comfortable location. I'll tell them that any escape attempts will return them to the dungeon for the remainder of their stay. I'm hoping the week down below will dissuade them"

"You're a hard woman Hokage - sama" he replied.

"I hope I'm hard enough, because if I fail in this challenge I fear that Konoha will fall"

Silence greeted her as her body guards contemplated her words.

'I will do anything to ensure our survival. Sarutobi - sensei……..I will protect our people'

She was distracted from her dark thoughts by a knock at the door

"Enter"

Her secretary entered, a thin balding man in his early sixties "Hokage - sama the team you sent after Uchiha Sasuke have returned to report their mission, it was a success"

Visibly a weight seemed to lift from Tsunade, sighing with relief she replied "Well that's one less thing to worry about, tell them to come in"

Author Notes:

Now praise for the reviewers!

Copy-Nin-Kakashi: Thanks for the gates info! And I'm glad you like the fic.

Anon: Yet again thanks for the pointers. I've gone over this chapter a few times and there were quite a number of mistakes. Your criticism is much appreciated! Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

The Dark Necromancer: Thanks I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Juddian: Well here's the update, it's a bit longer than my other chapters, hope you like it.

Emotwo: Lol great. Flogging Molly are a cool band. :D

Wormkaizer: Thank you also for the gates info, I've really got to start checking some of these things, heh. Hope you liked the NaruHina scenes.

Licht Sieger: Lol I just copied the way Lee acted from one of my friends when he's had too much to drink (lets just say he's very emotional).

Gemin16: Well Hinata kicked some more ass! I really had fun writing her scene with Gen in this chapter ^_^

Thanks you also for the spelling correction.

Gopu: Glad you liked the chapter, hope this one's as good!

EfrainMan: Don't worry, the you know who are going to make their first appearance in a few chapters.

Crazed Reviewer: For some reason your review isn't turning up on the board, but I got the email. I'm really happy to know that you're enjoying the fic. Hope this chapter was a good 'fix' :D

Well here's the next installment, it took a while but it's a lot longer than my previous chapters. Now to discuss.

First of all Naruto's memory, I don't know if you guys think he may have acted a bit OC during it due to the crying. But he was only six so I figure he would have been frightened by Gen's show of force. Also when he gets home I wanted to show that he was seriously angry about the way he was being treated. I figure he would have wanted revenge against the villagers, so I chucked in the 'hell to pay' statement. Tell me what you think of the memory I don't think it was too well written, but I tried. ^^;;

I also hope my explanation of Hinata's OC moment (biting Gen's head off) is covered ok in the fic.

I decided to add Tsunade in at the end on impulse, but it was fun writing her!

Aaah! I'm finding writing the NaruHina scenes a bit hard, hope they're not too stupid heh.

Sorry if this note doesn't make sense, I've got a bit of a hangover. I was going to update the story last night but one drink with some mates turned into many, so here I am writing the author note next morning.

As always, read, enjoy and review!!